Thursday February 11, 1999 - Question 6

A 4-year-old child who weighs 53 pounds presents to the emergency department following a suspected ingestion of one mouthful of tiger oil, an Asian product containing 98% methyl salicylate.  Upon presentation, the child is vomiting and hyperactive.  Initial vital signs: heart rate 130 beats/minute, blood pressure 116/70 mm Hg, respiratory rate 36 breaths/minute, temperature 37C.  The initial blood gas:  pH 7.3, pCO2 20 mm Hg, pO2 130 mm Hg, HCO3- 16 mEq/L.

Which of the following statements is correct regarding interpretation of the blood gas?

A. In this case, the vital signs are consistent with the arterial blood gas
 .
B. The bicarbonate is within normal limits for a 4-year-old child.
 
C. The pH alone can be used to determine the degree of acidosis present.
 
D. The pCO2 reflects only reflects compensation for the metabolic acidosis.
 
E. This child has a metabolic acidosis and a respiratory acidosis.
 

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