Paediatric Emergencies – Asthma – Case 2

A 8 year boy who is a diagnosed patient with asthma, comes with acute onset of difficulty in breathing for 2 days duration following a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Findings of the initial assessment are as follows.

• Alert
• Normal mental status
• Talks in short sentences
• Pulse rate is 100 bpm
• SpO2 is 93% on air
• Use some accessory muscles for respiration

What is the severity of the acute exacerbation of asthma in this patient?

After admission you give oxygen via face mask and stabilize the patient. What are the initial drugs of choice to treat this patient at the acute setting? (Select one or more)

Which of the following treatment regimen of salbutamol is appropriate for this patient?

Which of the following treatment regimen of ipratropium is appropriate for this patient?

After initial management with bronchodilators you assess this patient on regular intervals. Which of the following findings will support the decision of discharging this patient? (Select one or more)

You also decide to give oral prednisolone for 5 days for this patient. What is the appropriate dose? (Patient's weight is 22 kg)

On discharge, which of the following prescription of bronchodilator therapy is appropriate for this patient?