Which symptom would indicate potential pneumothorax in flight?

• A. Chronic coughing without acute onset.
• B. Sudden chest pain with dyspnea and asymmetric breath sounds.
• C. Nasal congestion.
• D. Fever and chills.

Answer: (B)

Sudden chest pain with shortness of breath and unequal breath sounds signal a pneumothorax in flight. The abrupt onset suggests air has entered the pleural space, causing part of the lung to collapse on the affected side. That collapse leads to difficulty expanding the lung (dyspnea) and, on examination, asymmetric or diminished breath sounds on the side with the pneumothorax. In the aircraft environment, changes in cabin pressure can cause even a small pneumothorax to worsen as you ascend, increasing the risk of rapid deterioration. The other symptoms listed—chronic cough without acute onset, nasal congestion, or fever with chills—are not typical signs of an acute pneumothorax in flight and align more with other conditions such as chronic lung issues, upper respiratory infection, or infectious illness.