Study Outline Essay

Submitted By nursenancy1
Words: 1182
Pages: 5

Childhood Airway Problems

Respiratory Syncytal Virus

RSV—common cause of Pn and Broncholitis in children less than 1 yr.

S/S

Fever, Runny nose, cough, sometimes wheezing

Prevalence: 0.5 to 2% requires hospitalization

Most recover is 8 to 15 days

Most common in late fall or winter—is the cause of one of the com. cold

A little about the virus:

(The virus is unstable and can not survive on counters or doorknobs for more than a few hours. Soap and water gets rid of it)

Acquired through contact

Diagnosis: viral antigen detection and viral RNA detection taken from nasal secretions…but mostly diagnosed through the symptoms

CXR show chest hyperinflation

Treatment: mostly symptom relief (Tylenol for fever)

Sometimes hospitalization and O2 therapy

Ribavirin is a medication used for severe treatment

--because of toxicity, pregnant health care workers should not care for children taking this medication.

--VERY occasionally given, but IF given, it is given through O2 t tent q 12-18 hours, for 3-7 days.

--turn off machine before lifting hood, because med can cause burning eyes and crystallization of eyes when wearing contacts.

Pulse oxemetry

Bulb syringe

Cluster care to minimize intrusions

IV fluids are given because of weakness, fatigue, and tachypnea

--given until acute crisis of disease is over

I & O monitoring (when wearing diapers ~ 1g wet diaper = 1 mL Urine)

Bronchodilators and steroids are rarely used

Prevention: Strict hand washing

RSV immune globulin IV monthly infusion

Synagus (palivizumab) medication given IM is a monoclonal antibody

given to “high risk” infants and children up to age 2 during winter season.

--this is the preferred way of prevention!

“High risk children” include…

Those that have chronic lung disease (CLD) and who have required medical therapy for CLD.

Premature infants born at 32 weeks of gestation or earlier

Premature infants born at 28 weeks of gestation or earlier benefit from IV RSV immune globulin.

If the infant is born between 32-35 weeks of gestation and are less than six months old during the winter season (so they would be born after July) they may get this IM therapy, however, this is carefully chosen)

RSV a impaired gas exchange, hypoxemia, and respiratory acidosis

Parent Education: contact Dr. when…

high fever, severe wheezing, difficulty feeding due to blocked nasal airway, chest retractions.

good hand-washing and keeping toys clean.

Cool humidifier

Bulb syringes

Frequent oral fluids

S/S of dehydration

All of these S/S get worse with worsening dehydration…

Weight LOSS

Pulse h

BP orthostatic

Irritable behavior

Drying Mucous membranes

Absence of tears

Loosing visibility of Jugular vein

Delaying capillary refill

Urine specific gravity h

Cystic Fibrosis

General activity:

FTT infant

Physical findings:

Frequent respiratory infections

salty taste on skin

delayed sexual development

no meconium stool as newborn

frothy stools as a infant due to inability to digest food

abdominal distention & bloating

poor weight gain

Nutritional status:

Inability to digest or absorb