Final answer:
Albuterol inhaler is expected to relieve bronchospasm in a 4-year-old girl with asthma by relaxing the muscles around the airways, thus making it easier for her to breathe. It is used for quick, short-term relief from the acute symptoms of asthma.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expected effect of prescribing a 4-year-old girl an albuterol inhaler (Proventil) for her asthma is to relieve bronchospasm. Bronchospasm is a condition where the airways become narrowed due to the tightening of the muscles around them. By using the albuterol inhaler, which is a short-term, fast-acting bronchodilator, it relaxes the muscles in the airways, hence opening them up and making it easier for the girl to breathe.
Albuterol works almost immediately to soothe constricted air passages and help re-expand them during an asthma attack. This medication is essential for quick relief from acute symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. For ongoing asthma management, other medications such as corticosteroids might be used for long-term control.
Although albuterol helps in easing the symptoms of asthma and obstructive pulmonary diseases, it should be noted that asthma has no known cure as of the current knowledge cutoff. However, through proper medication and avoiding triggers, the symptoms can be significantly managed, allowing individuals with asthma to lead active lives.