Author Question: An elderly patient comes in with failure to thrive, shortness of breath, confusion, and worsening ... (Read 68 times)

DelorasTo · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

An elderly patient comes in with failure to thrive, shortness of breath, confusion, and worsening congestive heart failure. What is most likely the patient's primary problem?

a. An atypical pneumonia
b. Aspiration pneumonia
c. Community-acquired pneumonia
d. Tuberculosis

Question 2

A patient presents with pneumonia accompanied by foul-smelling breath, absent gag reflex, or recent loss of consciousness. What should be suspected?

a. Aspiration pneumonia
b. Chlamydia pneumonia
c. Pneumococcal pneumonia
d. Tuberculosis

Harbringer · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
The clinical presentation of community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients deserves special mention because it may be subtle. Older individuals with pneumonia may not have a fever or cough and may simply present with shortness of breath, confusion, worsening congestive heart failure (CHF), or failure to thrive.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Patients with pneumonia accompanied by foul-smelling breath, absent gag reflex, or recent loss of consciousness are most likely to have a mixed aerobic and anaerobic infection as a conse-quence of aspiration.