A 2-year-old child presents with vomiting and diarrhea. What finding requires immediate reporting to the provider?

The finding that requires immediate reporting to the provider is a potassium level of 2.5 mEq/L. This value indicates hypokalemia, which is a significantly low potassium level. Potassium is crucial for various body functions, particularly in maintaining proper heart function and muscle contractions. In young children, such as a 2-year-old, even minor electrolyte imbalances can lead to serious complications, including cardiac issues, muscle weakness, and neurological problems.

Immediate reporting of this finding is essential as it could warrant prompt interventions such as potassium supplementation or other treatments to prevent potentially life-threatening consequences associated with low potassium levels. Timely management of electrolyte disturbances is critical in the pediatric population, especially in the context of vomiting and diarrhea that can exacerbate these imbalances.

The other options, while they may require monitoring or further evaluation for dehydration or mild electrolyte changes, do not pose the same immediate risk to the child's health as the critically low potassium level.