Saunders Respiratory Practice

Which symptom should a nurse expect in a client with AIDS who has histoplasmosis?

1. Fever

2. Dyspnea

3. Skin rashes

4. Nausea

The correct answer is: Dyspnea

In a client with AIDS who has histoplasmosis, dyspnea is a common symptom due to the pulmonary nature of the infection. Histoplasmosis, caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, often affects the lungs and can lead to respiratory complications, particularly in immunocompromised individuals like those with AIDS. The lungs may become inflamed and filled with granulomas, resulting in difficulty breathing, which is characterized as dyspnea. While fever, skin rashes, and nausea can also occur in patients with histoplasmosis and immunocompromised states, they are generally less specific to respiratory involvement compared to dyspnea. Fever is a more generalized symptom and can be seen in various infections. Skin rashes are not a primary feature of histoplasmosis, and nausea, while possibly present, does not directly indicate the respiratory impact of the fungal infection. Therefore, dyspnea is the most relevant symptom in this context, reflecting the pulmonary complications related to histoplasmosis in a patient with AIDS.