This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: Respiratory system, Subject name: Medicine
Characteristic pathological feature of pneumococcal pneumonia 
Select and explain. 
A. Consolidation of airway, B. Interstitial pneumonitis, C. Increased eosinophils, D. Hilar lymphadenopathy
A: Consolidation of airway
Answer: A: Consolidation of airway 
Explanation: The characteristic pathological feature of pneumococcal pneumonia is radiographic evidence of lobar/segmental consolidation.Consolidation may be associated with a small pleural effusion or empyema in complicated cases.In children,"round pneumonia", a distinctly spherical consolidation is associated with pneumococcal pathology.Non specific findings include elevated polymorphonuclear leukocytes(>15 000/micro Litre in most cases & upward of 40,000/micro Litre in some),elevated liver function tests,etc. Reference:Harrison' s medicine-18th edition,page no:1156.