Final answer:
A throat culture should not be performed for a child with epiglottitis due to the risk of airway obstruction. Diagnosis should be based on clinical signs and controlled visual inspection. Proper diagnosis and treatment are vital, and empirical antibiotic use is not always appropriate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to whether you should do a throat culture for a child with epiglottitis is b) No. Performing a throat culture or any aggressive examination of the throat can potentially cause distress and provoke airway obstruction, which is a medical emergency. Instead, epiglottitis should be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and visual inspection using laryngoscopy performed by an experienced clinician in a controlled environment where emergency airway management can be provided if necessary.
Epiglottitis is often caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, though other bacterial pathogens like Streptococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae can also be responsible. In Tracy's case, she had bacterial pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenzae and got better with antibiotics. This underscores the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment.
While some parents might prefer to err on the side of caution and give antibiotics without confirmation, this can contribute to antibiotic resistance and may not be appropriate in every situation.