Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

During an asthma exacerbation, which symptom is least likely to occur?

1. Rapid pulse

2. Wheezing

3. Chronic coughing

4. Tachypnea

The correct answer is: Chronic coughing

During an asthma exacerbation, symptoms typically involve acute respiratory distress and increased airway inflammation, which lead to a variety of observable clinical signs. Although chronic coughing can be a feature of asthma in general, it is not a hallmark symptom of an exacerbation. In the context of an asthma attack, wheezing is often prominently observed due to the narrowing of the airways, which produces a characteristic sound as air flows through. Tachypnea, or rapid breathing, frequently occurs as the body attempts to compensate for decreased oxygen levels. Additionally, a rapid pulse may also be expected as a response to decreased respiratory efficiency and potential hypoxia, as the heart works harder to maintain adequate oxygen delivery to tissues. In contrast, chronic coughing is more indicative of ongoing asthma or other respiratory disease states and may not manifest as prominently during an acute exacerbation, where the emphasis is on immediate airflow obstruction and lack of adequate respiratory function. Thus, while coughing can occur, it is not as likely to be a defining feature during an acute exacerbation compared to the other symptoms listed.