What would be likely found in the evaluation of a previously healthy 10-year-old boy with a productive cough and crackles in the lower right lung field?

In the case of a previously healthy 10-year-old boy exhibiting a productive cough and crackles in the lower right lung field, the most likely finding during evaluation would be alveolar consolidation in the right lower lobe on a chest radiograph.

This clinical presentation suggests an infection or inflammation of the lung tissue, commonly seen in pneumonia. When there is consolidation, the air spaces in the lungs are filled with fluid, pus, or solid material, which can be due to an infectious process. The productive cough indicates the presence of secretions in the airways, and the crackles heard upon auscultation often indicate fluid in the alveoli or inflammation within the lung tissue itself.

A chest X-ray would typically reveal areas of increased opacity in the affected lobe, signifying the consolidation. This finding correlates with both the clinical symptoms of cough and abnormal lung sounds, making it the most appropriate answer for this scenario.