A 2-year-old with a history of ear infections is not ill appearing and requires a physical exam. What ESI level does this child fall under?

The situation describes a 2-year-old child who has a history of ear infections but is not currently ill appearing and requires a physical exam. In the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), patients are categorized based on the acuity of their condition and the resources they require.

In this case, the child is not displaying signs of a critical or urgent medical condition, which generally characterizes higher ESI levels. ESI level 5 is designated for patients who are non-urgent and typically do not require any emergency intervention, just a physical examination or minimal resources. Since the child is stable and not ill appearing, this aligns well with the criteria for ESI level 5, signifying that the child can be treated in a manner that is less immediate and more outpatient in nature.

This indicates that while the child has a relevant medical history, their current presentation does not necessitate expedited care, thus fitting ESI level 5 appropriately.