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Week 5 Frank Russo Case Study: Progressive
Shortness of Breath in HIV Patient | 2026
Update with complete solutions -Chamberlain.
1. What is Frank Russo’s chief complaint?
A) Chest pain and palpitations
B) Progressive shortness of breath worsening over several weeks
C) Fever and productive cough for one day
D) Fatigue and weight loss for one month
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The case explicitly notes that the patient’s principal
complaint is shortness of breath that has been getting worse
over the last few weeks. He also reports a dry cough, night
sweats, and fatigue.
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2. How long has Frank Russo been off antiretroviral therapy
(ART)?
A) A few months
B) Approximately one year
C) More than two years
D) He has always been adherent
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The case states that Frank has known HIV but has
been off ART for more than two years, placing him at high
risk for a low CD4 count and opportunistic infections.
3. Which of the following symptoms is NOT typically
associated with Frank’s presentation?
A) Progressive dyspnea over weeks
B) Non-productive cough
C) Hemoptysis
D) Fevers and night sweats
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✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The classic PCP presentation includes subacute
dyspnea, dry cough, low-grade fever, and night sweats.
Hemoptysis is not a common feature and suggests alternative
diagnoses.
4. Frank reports that his shortness of breath began several
weeks ago and has slowly worsened. This pattern is most
characteristic of which condition?
A) Bacterial pneumonia
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)
D) Acute exacerbation of asthma
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: PJP has a subacute onset (developing over weeks)
because it is caused by a slow-growing fungus, unlike
bacterial pneumonia which typically worsens over days.
Week 5 Frank Russo Case Study: Progressive
Shortness of Breath in HIV Patient | 2026
Update with complete solutions -Chamberlain.
1. What is Frank Russo’s chief complaint?
A) Chest pain and palpitations
B) Progressive shortness of breath worsening over several weeks
C) Fever and productive cough for one day
D) Fatigue and weight loss for one month
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The case explicitly notes that the patient’s principal
complaint is shortness of breath that has been getting worse
over the last few weeks. He also reports a dry cough, night
sweats, and fatigue.
,Page 2 of 25
2. How long has Frank Russo been off antiretroviral therapy
(ART)?
A) A few months
B) Approximately one year
C) More than two years
D) He has always been adherent
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The case states that Frank has known HIV but has
been off ART for more than two years, placing him at high
risk for a low CD4 count and opportunistic infections.
3. Which of the following symptoms is NOT typically
associated with Frank’s presentation?
A) Progressive dyspnea over weeks
B) Non-productive cough
C) Hemoptysis
D) Fevers and night sweats
, Page 3 of 25
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The classic PCP presentation includes subacute
dyspnea, dry cough, low-grade fever, and night sweats.
Hemoptysis is not a common feature and suggests alternative
diagnoses.
4. Frank reports that his shortness of breath began several
weeks ago and has slowly worsened. This pattern is most
characteristic of which condition?
A) Bacterial pneumonia
B) Pulmonary embolism
C) Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)
D) Acute exacerbation of asthma
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: PJP has a subacute onset (developing over weeks)
because it is caused by a slow-growing fungus, unlike
bacterial pneumonia which typically worsens over days.
