A -month-old boy is brought to the emergency department via ambulance after experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. His parents report that he has had a low-grade fever, vomiting, and poor oral intake for the past hours. On physical examination, the child is lethargic, hypotonic, and pale. Hepatomegaly is noted on abdominal palpation. Point-of-care testing reveals a blood glucose level of mg/dL ( mmol/L). A urinalysis is notably negative for ketones. A metabolic crisis secondary to a fatty acid oxidation defect (such as medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency) is suspected. Arrange the following steps in the most appropriate chronological sequence for the immediate management, diagnostic workup, and long-term care of this patient.
- 1Draw blood for a 'critical sample' (including acylcarnitine profile and free fatty acids) while establishing intravenous access.
- 2Administer a rapid intravenous bolus of dextrose () followed by a continuous dextrose infusion.
- 3Initiate intravenous L-carnitine supplementation to conjugate and clear toxic metabolic intermediates.
- 4Implement a preventative emergency illness protocol emphasizing the strict avoidance of fasting.
- 5Order targeted molecular sequence analysis of the ACADM gene to confirm the specific diagnosis.