A nurse is planning care for a child who has epiglottitis. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

A. Obtain a throat culture. Throat cultures are contraindicated in suspected epiglottitis because the procedure can provoke airway obstruction and worsen the condition. B. Visualize the epiglottis using a tongue depressor. Attempting to visualize the epiglottis can lead to sudden airway obstruction in children with epiglottitis. This is dangerous and should be avoided. C. Initiate airborne precautions. Droplet precautions, not airborne, are necessary for epiglottitis because it is typically caused by bacteria that spread through respiratory droplets. D. Prepare the child for a neck X-ray and possible tracheostomy. A neck X-ray can help diagnose epiglottitis by showing the characteristic "thumb sign." Immediate airway management, including preparation for a potential tracheostomy, is crucial due to the risk of sudden airway obstruction.