Which pair best describes adult respiratory distress syndrome?

Which pair best describes adult respiratory distress syndrome?

• A. Fever and chills
• B. Dyspnea and tachycardia
• C. Chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin
• D. Dyspnea and tachycardia with crackles

Answer: (D)

Adult respiratory distress syndrome presents with acute breathing difficulty due to fluid in the lungs, leading to rapid breathing and signs of pulmonary edema. The best description combines shortness of breath (dyspnea) and a fast heart rate (tachycardia) with crackles heard on auscultation, which reflect fluid in the alveoli and impaired gas exchange. The crackles specifically point to lung fluid as a key feature, making this pair the most characteristic. Fever and chills suggest infection rather than the lung-fluid picture of ARDS; chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin points to cardiac ischemia; dyspnea and tachycardia without lung sounds don’t capture the lung-fluid involvement ARDS commonly causes.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome presents with acute breathing difficulty due to fluid in the lungs, leading to rapid breathing and signs of pulmonary edema. The best description combines shortness of breath (dyspnea) and a fast heart rate (tachycardia) with crackles heard on auscultation, which reflect fluid in the alveoli and impaired gas exchange. The crackles specifically point to lung fluid as a key feature, making this pair the most characteristic. Fever and chills suggest infection rather than the lung-fluid picture of ARDS; chest pain relieved by nitroglycerin points to cardiac ischemia; dyspnea and tachycardia without lung sounds don’t capture the lung-fluid involvement ARDS commonly causes.