A nurse is caring for a preschool-aged child who presents with manifestations of epiglottitis. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority to perform?

A. Decreased cardiac output in heart failure can lead to poor perfusion of the extremities, resulting in cool skin and decreased urine output due to reduced renal perfusion and impaired kidney function.

D. Poor feeding is often observed due to increased respiratory effort, tachypnea, and fatigue associated with heart failure. Additionally, infants may exhibit failure to thrive or inadequate weight gain despite increased caloric intake due to metabolic demands and inefficient utilization of nutrients.

E. Tachypnea and respiratory distress occur due to pulmonary congestion and increased respiratory effort in response to heart failure. Infants may exhibit signs such as nasal flaring, grunting, retractions, and cyanosis.

B. Bradycardia and hypotension are not typical manifestations of heart failure in infants. Instead, infants with heart failure often present with tachycardia (rapid heart rate) as a compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output. Hypotension may occur in severe cases but is not a common finding.

C. Increased appetite and excessive weight gain are not typical manifestations of heart failure in infants. Infants with heart failure often experience poor feeding and failure to thrive due to inadequate cardiac output and oxygen delivery to meet metabolic demands.

B. Wheezing is a common symptom of asthma exacerbation and can indicate airway obstruction. Wheezing may worsen during an asthma attack, suggesting deterioration in respiratory status.

C. Nasal flaring is a sign of increased respiratory effort and can occur during respiratory distress. In a child with asthma, nasal flaring may indicate worsening airway obstruction and increased work of breathing, suggesting deterioration in respiratory status.

D. Retraction of sternal muscles, also known as intercostal retractions, occurs when the muscles between the ribs are drawn inward during inspiration, indicating increased effort to breathe. Intercostal retractions are a sign of respiratory distress and can occur in children with asthma during exacerbations, particularly when airway obstruction is severe.

A. Warm extremities are not typically indicative of deterioration in respiratory status in a child with asthma. In fact, warm extremities may suggest adequate peripheral perfusion.

E. An oxygen saturation of 95% is within the normal range for most children and may not necessarily indicate deterioration in respiratory status. However, oxygen saturation should be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical signs and symptoms.