Paediatricsmiddle twist
A 2-year-old boy brought in at 2 am has a harsh barking cough and a hoarse cry. His general practitioner gave him prednisolone 1 mg/kg nine hours ago and he settled for the evening. He now has noisy inspiration that continues while he sits quietly on his mother's lap, deep indrawing above and below the sternum, and he is restless and will not settle. Respiratory rate is 44 per minute, heart rate 168 per minute and oxygen saturation 96 per cent in air. Which one of the following should he receive now?