Question

A 5-month-old infant who has a 3-day history of cough and rhinorrhea has developed symptoms of respiratory distress with audible expiratory wheezes and increased coughing. The infant's immunizations are up-to-date. The physical exam reveals a respiratory rate of 50 breaths per minute, coarse expiratory wheezing, and prolonged expiration. An oxygen saturation is 96% on room air. What is the recommended treatment for this infant?

Answer 1

The infant should be given a trial of bronchodilators.

Explanation:

Bronchodilators are compounds that dilates the bronchioles and smoothens the flow of air through them.

The infant has gonorrhea and cough. This shows that he has excessive mucus secretion in his respiratory tract.

Wheezing and prolonged expiration shows that the infant is having breathing difficulty.

Wheezing usually occurs when there is a blockage in the bronchial passage.

Since immunizations are up to date, chances of probable infections are less.

In this case the physician should use a bronchodilator trial to check if the blockage in the bronchus is due to mucus.

Then any further examination should be followed.