Question

9 yo boy is agitated and leaning forward on bed in obvious resp. distress. Pt is speaking in short phrases and has Hx of asthma but does not have inhaler. Has nasal flaring, severe suprasternal and intercostal retractions and decreased air movement with prolonged expiratory time and wheezing. You give 100 % O2 by nonrebreathing mask. SpO2 92%. What med do you give?

A. Albuterol
B. Adenosine
C. Procainamide
D. Ammiodarone

Answer 1

In this scenario, the appropriate medication to give to the boy experiencing an asthma attack would be albuterol.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, the boy is experiencing an asthma attack characterized by agitated behavior, leaning forward, respiratory distress, and other symptoms such as wheezing, nasal flaring, retractions, and decreased air movement.

The initial management of an asthma attack involves providing 100% oxygen through a nonrebreathing mask to improve oxygenation. However, since the boy does not have an inhaler and the oxygen saturation is still low at 92%, the appropriate medication to give would be albuterol (Option A).

Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator that relaxes the smooth muscles in the airways, helping to alleviate the bronchoconstriction and improve airway obstruction. It is commonly used as a rescue medication for acute asthma exacerbations.