During a physical exam, which finding would most likely correlate with acute bronchitis?

The presence of wheezing is a common finding in acute bronchitis due to the inflammation of the bronchial tubes. In acute bronchitis, the airways become narrowed and obstructed due to mucosal swelling and increased mucus production, leading to turbulent airflow. This turbulence generates wheezing, which is a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs during breathing, particularly when exhaling.

Acute bronchitis typically presents with a cough, often accompanied by sputum production, and wheezing can occur as the bronchial passages constrict. It reflects the reactive nature of the airways to inflammation or irritation, which is characteristic of bronchial conditions.

In contrast, decreased breath sounds are usually indicative of conditions such as pleural effusion or pneumothorax, where there is fluid or air in the pleural space, potentially obstructing normal lung sounds. Multiple lung nodules would suggest a process other than bronchitis, possibly an infectious or neoplastic process. Consolidation on auscultation can indicate pneumonia, where lung tissue becomes filled with fluid and the sound transmission changes, which is a different condition than acute bronchitis.