Which symptoms would lead a nurse to suspect epiglottitis in a 2-year-old?

The presence of drooling and stridor in a 2-year-old child would indeed raise suspicion for epiglottitis, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Drooling occurs because the child may have difficulty swallowing due to inflammation and swelling of the epiglottis, leading to an inability to handle saliva properly. Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound produced during breathing when there is obstruction or narrowing of the airway, indicative of respiratory distress that can accompany epiglottitis.

Both of these symptoms highlight an obstruction in the airway or significant swelling, which are characteristic signs of epiglottitis. This condition often progresses rapidly, and the combination of drooling and stridor specifically indicates both a difficulty in swallowing and a compromised airway, which are critical to recognize in this clinical scenario.

Other symptoms like barking cough and fever might suggest croup, while rash and fever could indicate other infections, and cough without fever is less suggestive of epiglottitis. Recognizing the hallmark signs of epiglottitis, such as drooling and stridor, enables timely intervention and treatment.