MSFinals-4574

MSFinals-4574

As a FY1 in the emergency department, you encounter a mother and her 5-year-old child who is complaining of a rapidly worsening sore throat, high fever, and excessive drooling from the sides of their mouth. The mother admits that the child has missed some vaccinations due to concerns about their negative effects, but is unsure which ones were omitted. Upon examination, the child is sitting on the examination couch, leaning forward and refusing to move. They are pyrexial (38.1C) with overt drooling from the sides of their mouth, and emitting a soft, high-pitched sound on inspiration. What is the most likely causative agent responsible for this child’s condition?