Reference no: EM133551516

Assignment:

Alex is a 2-year-old healthy male. He weighs 26 lbs and his current temp is 98.8F. For the past 2 nights, he has been up at night coughing. His mother describes it as a loud, hoarse "barky" cough. He is seeing you in the middle of the afternoon of Day 3. He is afebrile but mother reports that his temperature was 100.9F last night. He is a bit fussy and has only an occasional hoarse cough. He exhibits no retractions or excessive work of breathing. He has some mild high-pitched whistling noises on expiration. His appetite is down, but he is taking fluids well and his diapers have been wet. Mother denies any diarrhea, vomiting or rashes. No one at home is sick.

1. What do you suspect?
2. What are the typical lung sounds that are seen in this illness called?
3. What is the usual cause of this illness?
4. What is your treatment plan for Alex at this point?

If Alex had presented with more respiratory distress, what medication might you order him?