Ch. 35 Pediatric Emergencies Flashcards
Adolescents
Children between the age of 12 and 18 years.
Apparent life-threatening event (ALTE)
An event that causes unresponsiveness, cyanosis, and apnea in an infant, who then resumes breathing with stimulation.
Blanch
To turn white.
Bradypnea
Slow respiratory rate; ominous sign in a child that indicates impending respiratory arrest.
Bronchiolitis
Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger that 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.
Central pulses
Pulses that are closeest to the core (central) part of the body wherre the vital organs are located; include the carotid, femoral, and apical pulses.
Child abuse
A general term applying to all forms of abuse and neglect of children.
Croup
A viral inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may causee a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a barking cough; usually seen in children.
Epiglottitis
A bacterial infection in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause upper airway obstruction.
Fontanelles
Areas where a neonate’s or infant’s skull has not fused together; usually disappear at approximately 18 months of age.
Generalized (tonic-clonic) seizure
A seizure that features rhythmic back-and-forth motion of an extremity and body stiffness.
Grunting
An “uh” sound heard during exhalation; reflects the child’s attempt to keep the alveoli open; a sign of increased work of breathing.
Infancy
The first year of life.
Length-based resuscitation tape
A tape used to estimate an infant’s or child’s weight on the basis of body length; appropriate drug doses and equipment sizes are listed on the tape.
Meningitis
An inflammation of the meningial coferings of the brain and spinal cord; it is usually caused by a virus or bacterium.
Nares
The external openings of the nostrils. a single nostril opening is called a naris.
Neglect
Refusal or failure on the part of the parent or caregiver to provide life necessities.
Neisseria meningitides
A form of bacterial meningitis characterized by rapid onset of symptoms, often leading to shock and death.
Pediatric assessment triangle (PAT)
A structured assessment tool used to rapidly perform a general impressio of the infant or child without touching him or her; consists of assessing appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin.
Pediatrics
A specialized medical practice devoted to the care of the young.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years, in which the patient is feverish and exhibits a “whoop” sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection.
Preshcool-age
Children between ages 3 and 6 years.
School-age
Children between ages 6 and 12 years.
Shaken baby syndrome
A syndrome seen in abused infants and children; the patient has been subjected to violent, whiplash-type shaking injuries inflicted by the abusing individual that may cause coma, seizures, and increased intracranial pressure due to tearing of the cerebral veins with consequent bleeding to the brain.
