A child presents to the emergency department with fever, tachypnea, nasal flaring, and shallow breathing. The physical exam of the chest reveals the presence of crackles, increased tactile fremitus, and dullness to percussion. What should the therapist suspect the diagnosis is?

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Prodromal symptoms are often nonpulmonary and include headache, fever, malaise, and abdominal pain. Productive cough, with sputum often swallowed, and chest pain during inspiration (pleuritic pain) are common complaints. Physical examination usually reveals nasal flaring, accessory muscle use, intercostal and subcostal retractions, tachypnea, and shallow breathing. Crackles, decreased breath sounds, increased fremitus, and dullness to percussion are often found during auscultation and examination of the chest.

A Child Presents to the Emergency Department with Fever, Tachypnea