A 5-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his grandmother because of difficulty breathing. Over the past 2 hours, the grandmother has noticed his voice getting progressively hoarse and occasionally muffled, with persistent drooling. He has not had a cough. His grandmother is unsure if patient's immunizations are up-to-date. He appears uncomfortable and is sitting up and leaning forward with his chin hyperextended. His temperature is 39.5°C (103.1°F), pulse is 110/min, and blood pressure is 90/70 mm Hg. Cardiac examination reveals tachycardia and a normal rhythm without rubs or murmurs. The abdomen is soft and nondistended. Which of the following additional signs is most likely to be found on examination?

Question

A 5-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his grandmother because of difficulty breathing. Over the past 2 hours, the grandmother has noticed his voice getting progressively hoarse and occasionally muffled, with persistent drooling. He has not had a cough. His grandmother is unsure if patient's immunizations are up-to-date. He appears uncomfortable and is sitting up and leaning forward with his chin hyperextended. His temperature is 39.5°C (103.1°F), pulse is 110/min, and blood pressure is 90/70 mm Hg. Cardiac examination reveals tachycardia and a normal rhythm without rubs or murmurs.  The abdomen is soft and nondistended.  Which of the following additional signs is most likely to be found on examination?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Laryngeal airway obstruction can occur with epiglottitis.  It leads to inspiratory stridor due to the dynamic collapse of the larynx during inspiration.

A 5-Year-Old Boy Is Brought to the Emergency Department by His