You are evaluating a four-year-old girl in the emergency department who presents with fever and a sore throat. She was completely well until early this morning when she developed a fever to 40˚C (104˚F) at home. She complained of throat pain and refused to eat her breakfast or drink any liquids. Her voice sounds muffled and she has been drooling. She has no significant past medical history. On physical exam, she appears anxious. She is sitting with her hands on her knees and her neck hyper-extended. She has inspiratory stridor, but her lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. What is the next best step in management? A. Complete blood count B. Lateral neck radiograph C. Ceftriaxone D. Racemic epinephrine E. Endotracheal intubation F. Tracheostomy
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:36:12 +0000