23rd February 2024

An 18 month year old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents after developing rapid breathing.

An 18 month year old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents after developing rapid breathing. His parents report that the boy has been unwell for 2 days with a sore-throat and lack of appetite and started suffering from a high fever today. On examination the boy appears irritable and is drooling. He looks very short of breath and is using his accessory muscles to breathe with audible stridor. His observations reveal he is tachypnoeic, tachycardic and has a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius.

Select the single, most appropriate initial acute management option for this patient.