Question

A 15-year-old boy presents to the emergency with a cough, choking, vomiting with aspiration, and abdominal pain for half an hour. His parents reveal that the patient has been huffing kerosene for the last three years. He has previously presented to the emergency room twice with intoxication. A heart rate of 90 beats/min and blood pressure of 90/80 mmHg is recorded. Which of the following is the treatment of choice in this patient?

A. Maintenance of airway, breathing, circulation, and charcoal administration
B. Maintenance of airway, breathing, circulation, and epinephrine administration
C. Maintenance of airway, breathing, circulation, and IV naloxone
D. Maintenance of airway, breathing, circulation, and norepinephrine administration
E. Maintenance of airway, breathing, circulation, and aggressive fluid resuscitation

Answer 1

The best treatment choice for the boy huffing kerosene is to ensure maintenance of airway, breathing, circulation, and to proceed with aggressive fluid resuscitation to manage symptoms and stabilize his condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 15-year-old boy is experiencing symptoms such as cough, choking, vomiting with aspiration, and abdominal pain after huffing kerosene. Given his vital signs, a heart rate of 90 beats/min and blood pressure of 90/80 mmHg, the treatment of choice should center on maintaining the airway, breathing, circulation, and supporting any specific symptoms he may be having due to intoxication. Among the options provided, administering charcoal is not appropriate as kerosene is a hydrocarbon and is not well absorbed by charcoal. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are not first-line treatments for this condition. IV naloxone is used for opioid overdoses, which does not apply here. The best option would be aggressive fluid resuscitation, which can help manage hypotension and support circulation.