A 5-Week-Old Full-Term Boy Is Brought to the Emergency Department

A 5-week-old full-term boy is brought to the emergency department during winter due to intermittent respiratory pauses and cyanosis.  He has had rhinorrhea and nasal congestion for the past 2 days.  Over the past few weeks, the patient's father and older sibling have had nasal congestion and rhinorrhea but no fever or cough.  The boy has received the hepatitis B vaccination and no other immunizations due to his young age.  His temperature is 37.1 C (98.8 F) .  Physical examination shows bilateral crackles and wheezes and intermittent apnea.  Leukocyte count is 9,000 cells/mm³, with 60% lymphocytes and 30% neutrophils.  Which of the following is the most likely etiology of this patient's condition?

A) Bordetella pertussis
B) Influenza virus
C) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
D) Parainfluenza virus
E) Respiratory syncytial virus

Correct Answer:

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