A condition characterized by reversible airway obstruction with wheezing is known as?

• A. Bronchitis
• B. Asthma
• C. Atelectasis
• D. Bronchoscopy

Answer: (B)

Reversible airway obstruction with wheezing points to asthma, which reflects bronchial hyperreactivity that narrows the airways in response to triggers and typically improves with bronchodilator therapy. The wheeze arises from turbulent airflow through constricted bronchi, especially during expiration, and spirometry or a clinical response to a bronchodilator often shows marked improvement, confirming reversibility. This distinguishes asthma from other conditions where obstruction is not characteristically reversible or where the primary issue isn’t airflow limitation. Bronchitis centers on bronchial inflammation with cough and sputum; wheezing can occur but the hallmark is inflammation-related symptoms rather than reversible obstruction. Atelectasis involves collapse of lung tissue leading to decreased breath sounds and impaired oxygenation, not primarily a reversible bronchoconstriction. Bronchoscopy is a procedure to visualize airways, not a disease process.