A 5-year-old child shows signs of hoarseness and moderate stridor after a cold. What is the appropriate recommendation for this child?

In this scenario, the child is exhibiting hoarseness and moderate stridor following a respiratory illness, which suggests a potential diagnosis of croup or upper airway obstruction. Moderate stridor, particularly when present at rest, indicates a significant degree of swelling in the upper airway, requiring careful assessment and management.

Admission to the hospital is appropriate for several reasons. The child may require closer monitoring for respiratory distress and potential interventions such as nebulized epinephrine or corticosteroids, both of which are standard treatments for conditions like moderate croup. Hospital admission also allows for immediate access to advanced airway management if the child's condition were to deteriorate, which is critical in cases of significant airway obstruction.

In contrast, while teaching parents about home treatments might be beneficial for mild cases of croup, the presence of moderate stridor implies that the child is at heightened risk for airway compromise and likely needs more than outpatient management. Continuous bronchodilator therapy is typically reserved for conditions like asthma rather than croup, and immediate intubation, while a critical option in severe respiratory distress, is not the first-line treatment for moderate stridor unless there are signs of imminent respiratory failure.

Thus, hospital admission ensures the child receives appropriate monitoring and interventions in a safe environment, making