CASE 6
On a cold day in December, a 16-month-old boy was brought to a clinic for runny nose, hoarseness, barking cough, and a low-grade fever. According to his mother, the child had developed the barking cough the night before. His breathing was forced and noisy, especially with inspiration.
He had been healthy and received immunizations up to date. There was no family history of note.
LABORATORY STUDIES
Diagnostic Work-Up
Table 6-1 lists the likely causes of illness (differential diagnosis). The case presentation is, however, a clinical diagnosis. Further work-up for a specific clinical diagnosis is usually not pursued. If uncertain, the following tests can be performed:
• Rapid antigen detection for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or influenza, parainfluenza, and adenovirus
TABLE 6-1 Differential Diagnosis and Rationale for Inclusion (consideration)
