What condition is associated with inspiratory stridor, fever, retractions, and decreased oxygenation levels in a child?

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The condition characterized by inspiratory stridor, fever, retractions, and decreased oxygenation levels in a child is viral croup. Viral croup, often caused by parainfluenza virus, typically presents with a distinctive barking cough, stridor, and respiratory distress. The inspiratory stridor indicates upper airway obstruction, likely due to edema of the larynx and surrounding structures. Fever may be present, reflecting the underlying viral infection, and retractions indicate respiratory distress as the child works harder to breathe.

In contrast, bronchiolitis primarily presents with wheezing and is more common in infants, often due to RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). Pneumonia tends to cause cough, fever, and potentially decreased oxygenation but usually does not present with stridor, which is indicative of upper airway involvement. An asthma attack often leads to expiratory wheezing rather than the inspiratory stridor associated with croup. Thus, viral croup is the condition that fits all the symptoms listed, making it the correct answer in this context.

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