Rosh Emergency Medicine Practice Test

Which of the following symptoms may indicate a patient has pneumonia?

1. Productive cough with green sputum

2. Dry cough with low fever

3. Chest pain upon deep breathing

4. Shortness of breath without fever

The correct answer is: Productive cough with green sputum

A productive cough with green sputum is indicative of pneumonia, particularly when the sputum is purulent. In pneumonia, the infection in the lungs can lead to inflammation and increased production of mucus, which may manifest as a cough that brings up colored sputum, often reflecting the presence of pus or bacteria. Green sputum specifically can suggest a bacterial infection, and when combined with symptoms such as fever, chills, or difficulty breathing, it reinforces the likelihood of pneumonia being the underlying issue. While the other symptoms listed, such as a dry cough with low fever, chest pain upon deep breathing, and shortness of breath without fever, might suggest other conditions like bronchitis, pleuritis, or even non-infectious causes, they lack the specific indicators associated with pneumonia. A productive cough yielding green sputum presents a clearer diagnostic picture associated with a respiratory infection necessitating further evaluation and possibly treatment for pneumonia.