Question

A preschooler arrives in the emergency department. She is very anxious and irritable, refusing to lie down to be examined. She is sitting up, leaning forward on her hands, and drooling saliva. She is warm to the touch, and her color is pale. The nurse should:

A) Take the child's vital signs
B) Notify the physician immediately
C) Ask the parents to wait outside the examining room
D) Start an intravenous line

Answer 1

In this scenario, a preschooler displaying symptoms of anxiety, irritability, refusal to lie down, leaning forward on hands while drooling saliva, being warm to the touch and pale in color, is most likely experiencing epiglottitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given scenario, the preschooler's symptoms of anxiety, irritability, refusal to lie down, sitting up, leaning forward on her hands, and drooling saliva, along with being warm to the touch and pale in color, are indicative of epiglottitis.

Epiglottitis is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the epiglottis, a flap of tissue that covers the windpipe, becomes swollen and obstructs airflow to the lungs.

The nurse should immediately notify the physician and be prepared for the possibility of intubation or other emergency airway management while avoiding any actions that could agitate or further distress the child.