Which symptom is typical of a pneumothorax?

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Multiple Choice

Which symptom is typical of a pneumothorax?

Explanation:
Pneumothorax causes air to collect in the pleural space, which collapses part of the lung and reduces air movement on the affected side. That leads to diminished or absent breath sounds on that side, often with chest pain and shortness of breath. The unilateral finding is a hallmark, since the other lung usually sounds normal. Diminished breath sounds on both sides would point to a different, more extensive issue, and JVD can occur in tension pneumothorax but is not the defining symptom of a simple pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax causes air to collect in the pleural space, which collapses part of the lung and reduces air movement on the affected side. That leads to diminished or absent breath sounds on that side, often with chest pain and shortness of breath. The unilateral finding is a hallmark, since the other lung usually sounds normal. Diminished breath sounds on both sides would point to a different, more extensive issue, and JVD can occur in tension pneumothorax but is not the defining symptom of a simple pneumothorax.

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