How reliable/accurate are pulse oximeter results?
Without going into a complicated history which involves my son being diagnosed first with asthma-like problem, then with pneumonia, then with pneumonia+asthma, please tell me if oxigentation measurement done by a pulse oximiter is a reliable indicator of a problem, in the absense of other symptoms. My 4-year old is behaiving fine, eating again, and being playful and energetic. No breathing problems. No wheezing or crackles. Oxigen was shown to be at 93%. This freaked the Dr out and she gave us an inhailer with albuterol. I don't want to use it (my son hates this stuff). I'm puzzled at being confronted with a normally behaving child (who coughs a little) and an oxygen reading which says he needs breathing treatments...
