Question

A 2-year-old child is brought to the pediatric urgent care clinic by the parent who says that the child has had a barking cough for two days. During the rapid assessment of the child, the provider hears audible inspiratory stridor. Which common cause of partial upper airway obstruction in children would the provider most likely suspect?

Select the correct answer to this question.
A. Epiglottitis
B. Asthma
C. Croup
D. Pneumonia

Answer 1

The most likely diagnosis for a 2-year-old child with a barking cough and inspiratory stridor is croup, a respiratory condition characterized by inflammation of the larynx and trachea leading to these distinct symptoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 2-year-old child presenting with a barking cough and audible inspiratory stridor would most likely lead a healthcare provider to suspect croup as the common cause of partial upper airway obstruction in the child. Croup is characterized by inflammation of the larynx and trachea, mainly in young children, which leads to the distinctive barking cough and stridor. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, hoarseness, and symptoms similar to those of the common cold. Croup is often caused by a virus, such as the parainfluenza virus.

Conditions such as epiglottitis, asthma, and pneumonia might present with some respiratory symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing, but the distinct sound of a barking cough and stridor are particularly associated with croup, making it the most likely diagnosis in this scenario.