Pediatric Respiratory Practice Test

In an acute pediatric asthma attack, you want both immediate relief of bronchospasm and control of the underlying inflammation. This is best achieved with a fast-acting inhaled short-acting beta-agonist to open the airways right away, plus systemic corticosteroids to reduce airway inflammation and edema, help shorten the attack, and prevent relapse. The beta-agonist acts within minutes to improve airflow, while the steroids take effect over a few hours but are crucial for preventing progression and reducing subsequent hospital stays. In children, the beta-agonist is given via inhalation (with a spacer or as a nebulized treatment), and the steroid can be given orally or IV depending on severity. Other options don’t fit the acute needs: antibiotics are not routine for an asthma flare unless there’s a concurrent infection, and antibiotics don’t address bronchospasm or inflammation quickly; oxygen therapy is important if oxygen saturation is low but pairing it with a beta-blocker is not appropriate, since beta-blockers can worsen bronchospasm; chest physiotherapy and diuretics do not target the acute bronchospasm and inflammatory process in asthma.