A 4-year-old child who has been ill for 4 hours is admitted to the hospital with difficulty swallowing, a sore throat, and severe substernal retractions. The child's temperature is 104°F (40°C), and...

A 4-year-old child who has been ill for 4 hours is admitted to the hospital with difficulty swallowing, a sore throat, and severe substernal retractions. The child's temperature is 104°F (40°C), and the apical pulse is 140 bpm. The white blood cell count is 16,000/mm3 (16 × 10 9 /L). Which of the following is the priority for nursing intervention?

1. Anxiety.

2. Airway obstruction.

3. Difficulty breathing.

4. Potential for aspiration.