Which condition is the sudden blockage of blood flow in the arteries of the lung?

• A. Pneumonia
• B. TB
• C. COVID-19
• D. Pulmonary embolism

Answer: (D)

A sudden blockage of blood flow in the arteries of the lung is a pulmonary embolism. It happens when a blood clot, usually from a deep vein in the legs, travels to the lungs and lodges in a pulmonary artery, abruptly cutting off perfusion to part of the lung. This vascular occlusion is an acute event, often presenting with sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes rapid heart rate or low oxygen levels. Understanding this helps distinguish it from infectious lung conditions.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue with symptoms like fever, cough, and chest congestion. Tuberculosis is a chronic lung infection that tends to cause longer-standing symptoms and specific imaging findings. COVID-19 is a viral illness that can involve the lungs and may have a thrombotic component, but the classic immediate description of a sudden arterial blockage in the lung points to a pulmonary embolism.