A 5 year old comes to the ER with fever, sore throat, hoarseness, and stridor developing over one to two days. He also appears to be drooling. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in management?
a. get a lateral cervical neck x-ray
b. draw a CBC and blood cultures
c. prepare for emergency intubation
d. do a detailed history and physical
e. send him home
aanya.bansal Answered question August 21, 2024
The correct answer is c. prepare for emergency intubation.
The symptoms described, such as stridor (high-pitched sound while breathing), drooling, and rapid progression of symptoms, suggest a potential airway emergency, likely due to epiglottitis or supraglottitis. These conditions can lead to acute respiratory failure, requiring prompt intervention.
aanya.bansal Answered question August 21, 2024