Anita, a 4-Month-Old Girl with Respiratory Distress

Abstract

CASE PRESENTATION You are called to the emergency department (ED) to examine Anita, a 4-month-old girl, who presented 1 hour ago with increased work of breathing. You have been told by the ED physician that on arrival, Anita was noted to have subcostal retractions and a respiratory rate between 70 and 79 breaths/min. She was found to have crackles and wheezes on auscultation of her lungs and was given 5 mg of albuterol through a nebulizer without significant improvement. The ED physician is concerned that Anita will need further respiratory support because she continues to have significantly increased work of breathing, and, thus, she asks you to evaluate Anita for admission to the inpatient unit.