You are caring for a 5-year-old male with the complaint of difficulty breathing. Your assessment indicates that the patient is tachypneic with labored breathing. To get more information about the patient's respiratory function, which one of the following findings would you recognize as most important?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Retractions between the ribs indicate increased effort to breathe and are a sign of significant respiratory distress in children. Nasal congestion and runny nose can contribute to difficulty breathing, but it is not the most important finding. Skin that is hot and dry may be a sign of fever or dehydration, which can affect respiratory function, but is not specific to respiratory distress. A systolic blood pressure of 92 mmHg may be low for an adult, but is within the normal range for a 5-year-old child and is not directly related to respiratory distress.

You Are Caring for a 5-Year-Old Male with the Complaint