What should the nurse's best response to the parent of a child diagnosed with epiglottitis be regarding treatment?

• A. Intravenous antibiotics.
• B. Surgery to remove the tonsils.
• C. 10 days of aerosolized ribavirin.
• D. No intervention.

Answer: (D)

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency where the airway can rapidly become obstructed, so definitive treatment happens in a hospital setting with secure airway management and targeted therapy. When talking with a parent, the safest and most accurate message is that there is nothing to do at home to treat this condition; the child needs urgent hospital evaluation and care. In the hospital, care focuses on protecting the airway (staffed monitoring and readiness for intubation if needed), giving IV antibiotics, providing oxygen as needed, and supporting fluids and comfort. The key idea is that this condition requires professional, in-hospital treatment rather than anything the family can administer at home.