Which infection of the lungs is characterized by weight loss, night sweats, fever, cough, and blood-tinged sputum and is transmitted through the air?

• A. Tuberculosis
• B. Pneumonia
• C. Bronchitis
• D. Lung cancer

Answer: (A)

This question tests recognizing tuberculosis as an airborne lung infection that causes systemic symptoms such as weight loss, night sweats, fever, and a chronic cough, with hemoptysis possible. It spreads through airborne droplet nuclei when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, making it highly contagious in enclosed spaces. This pattern distinguishes it from other lung infections and conditions: pneumonia and bronchitis are typically more acute and focus on fever and cough without the characteristic long-standing weight loss and night sweats, and lung cancer isn’t infectious and doesn’t spread through the air in the same way.