A toddler seems to have a little "cold" and runny nose. At bedtime, he appears to be OK. A few hours later, parents awaken hearing a "tight" coughing sound

Question

They recognize the child is not breathing well, so they rush to the emergency department. On arrival, the nurses suspect bronchial asthma based on which of the following assessment data? Select all that apply.
A) Audible wheezing
B) "Crowing sound with inspiration"
C) Respiratory rate—44 with prolonged exhalation
D) Coughing up blood-tinged sputum
E) Sitting upright, leaning forward, and using accessory muscles to breathe

Answer 1

Ans: A, C, E
Feedback:
Bronchial asthma represents a reversible form of obstructive airway disease caused by narrowing of airways due to bronchospasms, inflammation, and increased airway secretions. Healthy children develop what may seem to be a cold with rhinorrhea, rapidly followed by irritability, a tight and nonproductive cough, wheezing, tachypnea (respiratory rate—44), dyspnea with prolonged expiration, and use of accessory muscles of respiration. Cyanosis, hyperinflation of the chest, and tachycardia indicate increasing severity of the asthma attack. Croup is characterized by inspiratory stridor or a barking cough. The British use the term croup to describe the cry of the crow or raven, and this is undoubtedly how the term originated. Hemoptysis (blood in the sputum) is usually associated with pulmonary emboli or lung cancers to name a few.