A nurse is collecting data on a client who has pneumonia. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 25 mg/dl (10 to 20 mg/dL): Elevated BUN can indicate dehydration or kidney issues, but it is not directly related to metabolic alkalosis.

B. Serum potassium level 4.8 mg/dL (3.5 to 5 mg/dL): This potassium level is within the normal range and does not indicate a cause of metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis is more commonly associated with hypokalemia rather than normal potassium levels.

C. History of vomiting: Vomiting can lead to metabolic alkalosis due to the loss of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), which reduces the body's acidity and raises the pH.

D. Overuse of antacids: Excessive use of antacids can contribute to metabolic alkalosis because antacids neutralize stomach acid, leading to an increase in blood pH.

E. Polycythemia: Polycythemia, an increased concentration of red blood cells, is not typically associated with metabolic alkalosis. It is related to other conditions such as chronic hypoxia or bone marrow disorders.

A. Diarrhea: Diarrhea leads to the loss of bicarbonate, an important buffer in the blood, which can contribute to the development of metabolic acidosis as the body loses bicarbonate faster than it can replace it.

B. Vomiting: Vomiting typically leads to metabolic alkalosis due to the loss of stomach acid, which reduces the amount of hydrogen ions in the body.

C. Salicylate intoxication: This condition primarily causes a mixed acid-base disturbance, including metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis, due to its effects on both the metabolic and respiratory systems.

D. Hyperventilation: This condition causes respiratory alkalosis due to excessive loss of carbon dioxide, not metabolic acidosis.