16 with asthma

[bluesky1966]

Should a 16 year old with an asthma attack go to the emergency room if he feels sort of breath but has no wheezing

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Does he have any bronchodilators that would cause him to not feel so short of breath? I would attempt to use a bronchodilator before going to the ER to see if this would open his airway and lead to reduced SOB.

Of course, I am approaching this situation with the assumption that this is a homework question.

[bluesky1966]

yes homework thats all the info they give but want to know if he should go or not and why I think there is not enough info to make that call

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Also, we would assess this patient.

What's his pulse oximetry reading? His tissues are, in all likelihood, perfusing adequately if his pulse ox is in the 90s.

What's his respiratory rate and rhythm?

Although wheezing is absent, what else do you hear when you auscultate his lungs?

How does he look? Is his color and complexion normal for racial-ethnic background, or is he cyanotic, pale, or ashen-appearing?

What's his mental health history? People with anxiety disorders and a history of panic attacks often have histories of feeling short of breath.

Are his vital signs at baseline, or are they slightly elevated?

Does he have a history of cardiac problems? The cardiac and respiratory systems are closely interconnected, and an issue in one system directly impacts the other.