A 4-year-old child presents with wheezing and hypoxia. What treatment should the specialist initiate?

In the context of a 4-year-old child presenting with wheezing and hypoxia, the most immediate treatment to ensure that the child has sufficient oxygenation is oxygen therapy. When a patient exhibits hypoxia, it indicates that there is insufficient oxygen in the bloodstream, which can lead to serious complications if not addressed promptly.

Administering oxygen therapy is crucial as it helps to quickly elevate the oxygen saturation levels and stabilize the child. This intervention is particularly important in an acute setting where hypoxia can significantly affect the child’s ability to breathe adequately and further contribute to respiratory distress.

While bronchodilator therapy is also a standard and essential treatment option for wheezing, especially in cases of asthma, the priority in this scenario is to stabilize the child's oxygen levels first. Once adequate oxygenation is established, bronchodilator therapy can be initiated to relieve airway obstruction caused by bronchospasm.

Inhaled corticosteroids are generally used for long-term management of airway inflammation and are not appropriate for acute treatment in this situation. Mucolytic therapy, which aims to thin mucus and facilitate clearance, is not the immediate focus either, particularly without evidence of mucus hypersecretion.

Thus, initiating oxygen therapy addresses the most urgent need for the child, ensuring