What respiratory condition results from an accumulation of fluid in the alveoli?

• A. Pneumothorax
• B. Pulmonary embolism
• C. Pulmonary edema
• D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Answer: (C)

Pulmonary edema is characterized by an accumulation of fluid in the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs. This condition can result from various factors, including heart failure, where the heart's inability to pump effectively leads to increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. This pressure causes fluid to leak into the alveoli, impairing gas exchange and resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and a feeling of suffocation.

In contrast, pneumothorax involves air in the pleural space, which can collapse the lung but does not involve fluid in the alveoli. Pulmonary embolism refers to a blockage in the pulmonary arteries, usually caused by blood clots, affecting blood flow rather than fluid accumulation in the alveoli. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease that primarily causes obstructed airflow and is not directly linked to fluid accumulation in the alveoli. Thus, pulmonary edema specifically addresses the fluid accumulation that is central to the question posed.