You are on the scene of a 5-year-old patient who is in respiratory distress.The mother states that the patient has been making a "seal bark"-sounding cough for the past 24 hours.The child is very scared.The patient has stable vital signs.He is leaning forward in the tripod position and is drooling profusely.After performing your primary assessment,what is your best treatment option?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, including a "seal bark"-sounding cough, drooling, and the child assuming a tripod position, are indicative of upper airway obstruction, likely due to croup or possibly epiglottitis. The best immediate treatment is to calm the child and provide oxygen in a non-threatening manner, such as blow-by oxygen, to avoid worsening the airway obstruction by causing more distress or agitation.

You Are on the Scene of a 5-Year-Old Patient Who