Severe respiratory infection in a child
Late at night a young 10-year-old patient (25 kg) is admitted to the ER (hospital with complex cardiovascular centre), accompanied by his parents. The patient presented with a dry irritating cough, he is subfebrile and exhausted from the cough. The patient is complaining of headache and loss of appetite. He has been in this condition for two days.
You’ve decided to measure the CRP level.
What will be your next step?
Examination
The patient is alert, oriented, with no significant change in breath sounds. CRP 28 mg/L, T 37,5°C.
