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Pediatric foreign-body airway obstruction — ABEM Board MCQ

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EasyPediatric emergenciesPediatric foreign-body airway obstructionABEM Board

A 6-year-old boy arrives as ESI 2 with drooling and choking after eating peanuts. He has weak cough, stridor, and cyanosis but is conscious. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: A — Perform age-appropriate abdominal thrusts

Conscious child with severe foreign-body airway obstruction should receive abdominal thrusts; blind sweeps can worsen obstruction.

Reference: AHA Pediatric BLS foreign-body airway obstruction algorithm