Pulmonary contusion can present with which symptom?

Pulmonary contusion can present with which symptom?

• A. Hemoptysis
• B. Progressive dyspnea
• C. Chest pain
• D. Bruising over sternum

Answer: (B)

Pulmonary contusion disrupts gas exchange in the lungs after blunt chest trauma, leading to alveolar bleeding and edema that progressively worsen oxygenation. Because the lung tissue is accumulating fluid and blood after injury, the patient typically experiences increasing shortness of breath over time. That’s why progressive dyspnea best represents the presentation of a pulmonary contusion. Hemoptysis can occur if there’s airway bleeding, but not all patients have coughing up blood, so it’s less consistent. Chest pain is common with chest trauma but isn’t specific to lung contusion, and bruising over the sternum reflects external injury rather than the lung’s internal injury.

Pulmonary contusion disrupts gas exchange in the lungs after blunt chest trauma, leading to alveolar bleeding and edema that progressively worsen oxygenation. Because the lung tissue is accumulating fluid and blood after injury, the patient typically experiences increasing shortness of breath over time. That’s why progressive dyspnea best represents the presentation of a pulmonary contusion.

Hemoptysis can occur if there’s airway bleeding, but not all patients have coughing up blood, so it’s less consistent. Chest pain is common with chest trauma but isn’t specific to lung contusion, and bruising over the sternum reflects external injury rather than the lung’s internal injury.