NREMT Paramedic Practice

Which symptoms are indicative of a pulmonary contusion?

1. Severe headache and nausea

2. Tachypnea and cough

3. Chest pain and fever

4. Abdominal pain and gastrointestinal upset

The correct answer is: Tachypnea and cough

Tachypnea and cough are indicative of a pulmonary contusion because these symptoms arise from the inflammatory process and injury to the lung tissue that occurs when there is damage from blunt trauma. A pulmonary contusion leads to bleeding and swelling in the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing, which results in an increased respiratory rate, or tachypnea. The cough may be a reflex response to irritation in the airways or damage to lung tissue, often accompanied by the production of blood-tinged sputum due to injury. Other symptoms, such as chest pain, may be present, but they are not as directly indicative of a pulmonary contusion specifically as tachypnea and cough are. Understanding the respiratory signs associated with lung injuries is crucial for appropriate assessment and management in trauma cases.