A 1-year-old girl is brought to the Paediatric Emergency Department in the early morning with breathing difficulties. She has a dry cough that sounds like the barking of a sea lion... A 1-year-old girl is brought to the Paediatric Emergency Department in the early morning with breathing difficulties. She has a dry cough that sounds like the barking of a sea lion and gets worse when she is crying. Every time the infant breathes in, there is a high-pitched sound There is also a 4-day history of a mild upper airway infection. Blood pressure 80/65 mmg, Heart rate 120/min, Respiratory rate 40/min, Temperature 38.5° C. Which of the following is the most appropriate way to establish the diagnosis? A. Chest X-ray B. Spirometry C. Pharyngeal swab D. Clinical examination
Understand the Problem
The question describes a 1-year-old girl presenting with symptoms suggestive of a specific respiratory condition. The question asks us to determine the most appropriate method to establish the diagnosis, given the symptoms and vital signs provided.
Answer
D. Clinical examination
The most appropriate way to establish the diagnosis is D. Clinical examination. The patient's symptoms, including a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and a history of upper airway infection, are indicative of croup, which is typically diagnosed clinically.
Answer for screen readers
The most appropriate way to establish the diagnosis is D. Clinical examination. The patient's symptoms, including a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and a history of upper airway infection, are indicative of croup, which is typically diagnosed clinically.
More Information
Clinical examination is typically sufficient for diagnosing croup, and imaging or lab tests are not usually required unless the diagnosis is uncertain or there are complications.
Tips
It is important to recognize the clinical signs of croup, such as barking cough and stridor, to avoid unnecessary investigations like X-rays or pharyngeal swabs.
Sources
- Croup - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic - mayoclinic.org
- What is Croup? Symptoms, Treatment, and When to Worry - chop.edu
- Croup - symptoms, causes and treatments - Healthdirect - healthdirect.gov.au
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