A 5-year-old child presents with wheezing and an SpO2 of 85% on room air. What is the most appropriate intervention?

In a situation where a 5-year-old child is presenting with wheezing and a low oxygen saturation level of 85% on room air, the most appropriate intervention is to administer nebulized medication. Wheezing indicates bronchospasm or airway constriction, which is common in conditions such as asthma. Nebulized medications, particularly bronchodilators like albuterol, can rapidly alleviate bronchospasm, improving airflow and helping to increase the oxygen saturation.

Administering nebulized medication addresses the underlying issue of airway constriction directly. This intervention is crucial because resolving the wheezing can lead to an improvement in the child's overall respiratory status and oxygen levels.

Providing only supplemental oxygen is not sufficient in this case because while it may help improve the SpO2 temporarily, it does not treat the underlying cause of the wheezing. Assessing vital signs is important for overall clinical management, but it does not provide immediate relief of the respiratory distress. Performing chest compressions is not indicated here, as the child is not in cardiac arrest; the priority is to address the respiratory issue.

In this context, administering nebulized medication effectively combines the need to treat the acute respiratory condition and improve oxygenation.