A one-year-old patient shows signs of croup. What treatment should be administered?

The correct treatment for a one-year-old patient showing signs of croup involves administering racemic epinephrine via nebulization. Croup is characterized by upper airway inflammation and narrowing, often leading to stridor and difficulty breathing. Racemic epinephrine acts as a bronchodilator and helps reduce airway swelling by constricting blood vessels in the inflamed area, providing rapid relief of respiratory distress associated with croup.

In mild to moderate cases of croup, supportive care such as increased humidity may be recommended to ease breathing and soothe irritations in the airways; however, in situations where stridor is present at rest or the child is experiencing significant respiratory distress, racemic epinephrine is preferred due to its immediate therapeutic effects.

Oral steroids are typically used for croup as well, particularly in cases of moderate to severe symptoms, as they help reduce inflammation over a longer period. However, the acute management in a situation where a child displays distress would prioritize the rapid effects of nebulized racemic epinephrine. Antihistamines are not indicated for croup, as they do not address the underlying inflammatory causes or provide the needed bronchodilation.