What type of breath sounds might you hear in a patient experiencing an asthma exacerbation?

In a patient experiencing an asthma exacerbation, you would typically hear diffuse wheeze and diminished breath sounds. Asthma is characterized by bronchial hyperreactivity, leading to airway narrowing due to inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and increased mucus production.

The presence of diffuse wheezing indicates turbulent airflow through narrowed airways, which is a hallmark of asthma. Wheezing is often more pronounced during expiration due to the dynamic collapse of the bronchioles. As the patient struggles to breathe, especially during a severe exacerbation, breath sounds may become diminished in areas where airflow is significantly obstructed.

This combination of wheezing and diminished breath sounds not only indicates the presence of airway obstruction, but it also signals the necessity for immediate therapeutic intervention, such as bronchodilators.

In contrast, other choices do not accurately reflect the typical breath sounds associated with an asthma attack. For instance, stridor usually suggests upper airway obstruction, normal breath sounds would not indicate respiratory distress, and rhonchi are typically associated with conditions that produce secretions in the larger airways, rather than the specific bronchospasm and inflammation seen in asthma.