[Solved]: An 85-year-old female presents to the emergency…

An 85-year-old female presents to the emergency department in severe respiratory distress with a 12-hour history of progressive shortness of breath and increasing oxygen requirements. Chest x-ray shows diffuse consolidation of both lungs (aka diffuse bilateral alveolar infiltrates) without enlargement of the heart. Further questioning reveals the patient had a witnessed choking episode while eating yesterday evening. What is the most likely diagnosis and why? Question 47 options: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by aspiration pneumonia. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by droppings from a pet bird. Bronchopneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Pulmonary tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.