What is the recommended oxygen management during breathing distress in asthma?

• A. Administer only with pulse oximeter reading below 90%.
• B. Provide supplemental oxygen to help maintain blood oxygen saturation above 92%.
• C. Oxygen should be avoided to prevent dependency.
• D. Oxygen is never needed in asthma.

Answer: (B)

In asthma with breathing distress, the top priority is keeping oxygen delivery to the tissues adequate. Providing supplemental oxygen helps prevent hypoxemia as airway inflammation and bronchospasm respond to treatment. The goal is to keep blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) above 92%, which is monitored with pulse oximetry and used to guide how much oxygen to give. Start with the appropriate delivery method for the severity—nasal cannula for milder distress and a mask or higher-flow setup if the situation is more severe—and adjust to maintain the target as the patient improves. Oxygen isn’t avoided or used to prevent dependency; it’s a supportive therapy to maintain adequate oxygenation during an acute asthma episode while other treatments take effect.