A woman is in her seventh month of pregnancy.
She has been reporting nasal congestion and occasional epistaxis.
The nurse suspects that.

Choice A rationale:
Inspiratory stridor. Inspiratory stridor, a high-pitched sound heard during inhalation, is a common symptom of acute epiglottitis. It is caused by the swelling and inflammation of the epiglottis, which can partially obstruct the airway and create a stridor sound during breathing.
Choice B rationale:
Complete obstruction. Using a tongue depressor to examine the throat of a child with acute epiglottitis can potentially lead to a complete airway obstruction. The epiglottis, which is already swollen, can block the airway entirely, leading to respiratory distress and potentially a life-threatening situation.
Choice C rationale:
Sore throat. A sore throat is a common symptom of various respiratory tract infections, including acute epiglottitis. However, the use of a tongue depressor can worsen the swelling and potentially lead to complete airway obstruction, which is a more immediate concern.
Choice D rationale:
Respiratory tract infection. Acute epiglottitis itself is a severe respiratory tract infection, specifically involving the epiglottis. Using a tongue depressor might exacerbate the condition, leading to airway obstruction, but it is not the cause of the respiratory tract infection.

Choice A rationale:
Bronchoscopy is not the essential test for diagnosing cystic fibrosis. Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows the healthcare provider to visualize the airways and lungs but is not the primary test for cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Cystic fibrosis is primarily diagnosed through genetic testing and sweat chloride testing.
Choice B rationale:
Serum calcium levels are not specific to cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Serum calcium levels are typically used to assess calcium balance in the body and are not directly related to cystic fibrosis diagnosis.
Choice C rationale:
Urine creatinine levels are not specific to cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Urine creatinine levels are often used to assess kidney function and muscle breakdown but are not diagnostic for cystic fibrosis.
Choice D rationale:
Sweat chloride test is essential in establishing the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is characterized by the abnormal transport of chloride across cell membranes, leading to salty sweat. The sweat chloride test measures the amount of chloride in the sweat and is a key diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis. Values above a certain threshold (typically 60 mmol/L) are suggestive of cystic fibrosis.