A cyanotic 6-year-old child is SOB in tripod position. Reactive airway disease suspected. Which medication should be administered?

Prepare for the Paramedic Readiness Exam 4 with our engaging quiz. Hone your skills with targeted questions, hints, and in-depth explanations. Excel on your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

A cyanotic 6-year-old child is SOB in tripod position. Reactive airway disease suspected. Which medication should be administered?

Acute bronchospasm from suspected reactive airway disease is best relieved quickly with a fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Nebulized albuterol delivers a direct beta-2 agonist to the airway smooth muscle, causing rapid relaxation of the bronchi, opening the airways, reducing work of breathing, and improving oxygenation. The typical dose used is 2.5 mg in 3 mL of saline, with onset within minutes and a duration of several hours, which matches the urgent needs of a cyanotic child in distress. Epinephrine injections can be lifesaving in severe cases or anaphylaxis, but they bring more systemic effects and aren’t the preferred initial therapy for a presumed isolated asthma attack. Diphenhydramine doesn’t address airway constriction and isn’t helpful for acute bronchospasm. Methylprednisolone IV helps reduce inflammation but takes hours to produce noticeable improvement, so it doesn’t provide the immediate relief needed during an acute attack.

Acute bronchospasm from suspected reactive airway disease is best relieved quickly with a fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator. Nebulized albuterol delivers a direct beta-2 agonist to the airway smooth muscle, causing rapid relaxation of the bronchi, opening the airways, reducing work of breathing, and improving oxygenation. The typical dose used is 2.5 mg in 3 mL of saline, with onset within minutes and a duration of several hours, which matches the urgent needs of a cyanotic child in distress.

Epinephrine injections can be lifesaving in severe cases or anaphylaxis, but they bring more systemic effects and aren’t the preferred initial therapy for a presumed isolated asthma attack. Diphenhydramine doesn’t address airway constriction and isn’t helpful for acute bronchospasm. Methylprednisolone IV helps reduce inflammation but takes hours to produce noticeable improvement, so it doesn’t provide the immediate relief needed during an acute attack.

More practice questions