A child is admitted to the hospital due to an acute asthma exacerbation. The nurse is assessing the patient and immediately calls the physician after discovering which of the following?
Explanation
• The sudden absence of expiratory wheezes on one or both sides during an asthma attack may be a sign of airway collapse and should be treated as a medical emergency.
• Incorrect: Shortness of breath, use of accessory muscles, and increased mucous production are expected during an asthma attack. These are not medical emergencies, but should be monitored.