The new mother of a 3 week old infant is concerned that her child is having difficulty breathing. She states he is a noisy breather but has remained afebrile and sleeps/feeds well. After a benign history/physicalexam, it would be prudent to:
a. begin iv antibiotics
b. prescribe a decongestant
c. reassure mom and send home with saline nasal spray
d. begin albuterol nebs prn
The correct answer is:
c. reassure mom and send home with saline nasal spray
The infant’s symptoms of noisy breathing without fever, distress, or feeding difficulties suggest a benign condition. The most likely cause is nasal congestion or upper airway noise, common in newborns due to narrow nasal passages and developing respiratory system.