Which of the following is a sign or symptom of tension pneumothorax?

• A. JVD, cyanosis, progressive respiratory distress, anxiety, tracheal deviation
• B. Fever, cough, chest tightness
• C. Rash, itching
• D. Abdominal pain

Answer: (A)

Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening buildup of air in the pleural space that increases intrathoracic pressure, compressing the lung and shifting the mediastinum. This impairs venous return to the heart, causing signs like jugular venous distension, and it drops oxygen levels, leading to cyanosis. As the condition worsens, you see progressive respiratory distress and the patient often feels anxious from the rising hypoxia. The mediastinal shift also classically produces tracheal deviation. The other symptoms listed don’t fit this emergency picture—fever with cough suggests infection or inflammation, rash/itching points to an allergic reaction, and abdominal pain isn’t related to this thoracic emergency.