Chapter 34- Pediatric Emergencies Flashcards
Pediatrics
A specialized medical practice devoted to the care of young patients, can be extremely challenging
Infancy
Usually defines as the first year of life
Toddler
After infancy until about age 3
Assessment of an infant
- Observe infant from distance in parent/caregivers arms
- Sensory comfort (warm hands and end of stethoscope)
- do painful or uncomfortable procedures at the end of the assessment process.
Assessment of a toddler
- stranger anxiety may still develop early
- allow the toddler to hold any special objects that brings the toddler comfort
- when possible, demonstrate the assessment on a doll or stuffed animal first
Preschool age
Ages 3-6 years old
Assessment of a preschool age child
- they can understand directions, be more specific in describing their sensations and identify painful areas when questioned
- communicate simply and directly
School age
Children ages 6-12 years old
Adolescents
Ages 12-18 years old
Infant respirations per minute
30-60
Toddler respirations per minute
24-40
Preschool age respirations per minute
22-34
School-age respirations per minute
18-30
Adolescent respirations per minute
12 to 16
Normal pulse ranges for newborn to 3 months
85-205
Normal pulse ranges for 3 months- 2years old
100-190
Normal pulse rates for 2year olds to 10year olds
60-140
Normal pulse rates for 10 years or older
60-100
What is more frequently injured in children than adults when it comes to the gastrointestinal system?
The liver, spleen, and kidneys
Childs bones are ______ than adults
Softer
Fontanelles
Soft spots of the infants head
The thoracic cage of children are
Highly elastic and flexible because it is primarily composed of cartilaginous connective tissue
Pediatric assessment triangle (PAT)
A assessment toool used to rapidly form a general impression of the infant or child without touching him or her
Consists of assessing appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin
TICLS
Tone Interactiveness Consolability Look or gaze Speech or cry
Tachypnea
Increased respiratory rate
ABCDE
Airway Breathing Circulation Disability Exposure
Bradypnea
A decrease in the respiratory rate
Wong-Baker FACES Scale
Helpful tool in assessing the level of pain in a pediatric patient
A useful tool to determin blood pressure in children ages 1 to 10 years is:
70+(2 x child’s age in years)= Systolic Blood Pressure
Tracheitis
Inflammation of the trachea
Signs and symptoms that are frequently associated with a partial upper airway obstruction include:
Decreased or absent breath sounds and stridor.
Signs and symptoms of a lower airway obstruction:
Wheezing and/or crackles
Asthma
A condition in which the smaller air passages (bronchioles) become inflamed, swell, and produce excessive mucus, which leads to difficulty breathing
Common causes (triggers) for an asthma episode include:
- upper respiratory infection
- exercise
- exposure to cold air or smoke
- emotional stress
Pneumonia
General term that refers to an infection of the lungs.
Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis)
An infection in the airway below the level of the vocal cords, usually caused by a virus
The disease starts with a cold, cough, and a low-grade fever that develops over 2 days.
Hallmark signs of croup
Stridor and a seal-bark cough, which is a signal of significant narrowing of the air passage of the trachea that may progress significant obstruction.
Intervention you can give for croup
Humidified oxygen if possible
Epiglottitis (Supraglottitis)
An infection of the soft tissue in the area above the vocal cords.
In preschool and school aged children especially, the epiglottis can swell to two to three times its normal size.
Signs and symptoms of epiglottitis
Look ill, report a very sore throat, have a high fever, often found in tripod position, pain on swallowing
Bronchiolitis
A specific viral illness of newborns and toddlers, often caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that causes inflammation of the bronchioles.
Highly contagious and spread through droplets
Pertussis
Also known as whooping cough, is a communicable disease caused by a bacterium that spread through respiratory droplets.
Signs and symptoms of pertussis
Similar to a common cold:
Coughing
Sneezing
And a runny nose
Hemophilia
A congenital condition in which the patient lacks one or more of the normal clotting factors of blood.
AEIOU-TIPS
Alcohol Epilepsy, endocrine, electrolytes Insulin Opiates and other drugs Uremia
Trauma, temperature
Infection
Poisoning, psychogenic causes
Shock, stroke, seizure, syncope, space-occupying lesion, subarachnoid hemorrhage
Meningitis
An inflammation of the tissues called the meninges, that cover the spinal cord and brain
Dose for a child of activated charcoal
1g of activated charcoal per kilogram of body weight. Usual pediatric dose is 12.5 to 25g.
Febrile seizures
Are common in children between ages 6 months and 6 years.
Don’t have aura stage
Most pediatric seizures are a result of fever.
Tonic
Contraction phase of seizure
Clonic
Excessive movement phase of seizure
Shaken baby syndrome
Infants may sustain life threatening head trauma by being shaken or struck on the head
Neglect
Refusal or failure on the part of the parent or caregiver to provide life necessities, such as food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medicine, comfort, and personal safety.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
The death of an infant or young child where the cause of the death remains unexplained.
