What expected examination result would you find in a 14-year-old male with bronchitis who presents with fever and green sputum?

Prepare for the NCLEX Yellow Book Klimek’s Version Test. Study with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Enhance your exam readiness!

In a 14-year-old male with bronchitis presenting with fever and green sputum, the presence of rhonchi is the expected examination finding. Rhonchi are coarse, rattling lung sounds caused by the accumulation of mucus in the airways, which is characteristic of bronchitis. As inflammation of the bronchial tubes leads to increased mucus production, it's common for patients to exhibit these abnormal lung sounds upon auscultation.

The green sputum suggests a bacterial infection, which can accompany bronchitis; as the airways become constricted and filled with mucus, rhonchi will often be heard in these cases. This clinical manifestation aligns with the expected findings associated with bronchitis, where mucus obstructs air passages and generates these audible sounds.

While crackles and dullness to percussion could indicate fluid in the alveoli or consolidation, they are more typically associated with pneumonia rather than bronchitis alone. Wheezing is also possible but is more commonly associated with bronchial hyperreactivity or asthma rather than straightforward bronchitis. Therefore, rhonchi represent the most likely finding in this scenario involving bronchitis.

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