LO11 Pediatrics Flashcards
Neonate and infant
- First month of life is neonatal. I
- infancy refers to the first 12 months of life
- infants between two and six months of age begin to hold their heads up
- 6 to 12 months infants begin to crawl in Babble
Toddler
Preschool aged
Toddler
- The toddler. Extends from ages 1 to 2 years
Preschool aged
- 3 to 5
- They will be able to tell you what hurts
School aged child
Adolescent
School aged child
- 6 to 12 years
- By eight years the child anatomy and physiology are similar to those of an adult
- Ask the child questions rather than the caregiver
Adolescent
- 13 to 18 years
Neck and airway
- The airway of a young child is also smaller than an adult airway making it more prone to obstruction
- During the first 4 to 6 months of life infants are obligate nose breathers and nasal obstruction with mucus can result in significant respiratory distress
- The narrowest part of a young child airway occurs at the level of the cricoid cartilage rather than at the vocal cords as an adult
Chest and lungs
- A child’s chest wall is quite then making it easy to hear heart and lung sounds but also means that sounds are transmitted throughout the chest
- Children have fewer rib fractures and flail chest events however thoracic organs may be more severe
- Children are more vulnerable than adults the pulmonary contusions, cardiac Tampa nod and diaphragmatic rupture
- Signs of a pneumothorax or haemothorax and children are often subtle
Heart
- During the first year of life ECG axis and voltage of shift to reflect left ventricular dominance
Abdomen and pelvis
- abdominal distension in a healthy infant is due to two factors the weakness of the abdominal wall muscles and the size of the solid organs
- liver extends below the rib cage in infants
- Abdominal injuries are the second leading cause of serious trauma in children
- The liver and spleen extend below the rib cage and do not have much boney protection as they do in an adult the kidneys as well
The musculskeletal system
- The growth plates of a child’s bones are made of cartilage, or relatively weak and are easily fractured
- Fractures are more common than sprains
PAT to form a general impression
- Begins with your general assessment of how the patient looks sick or not sick
- Including three elements the child’s parents work of breathing and circulation
Appearance
- Appearance reflects the adequacy of ventilation, oxygenation, brain perfusion, body homeostasis and central nervous system function
- TICLS pneumonic
highlights the most important features of a child’s appearance tone, interactiveness, consolability, look or gaze and speech or cry
Work of breathing
- Listening for abnormal airway sounds and looking for signs of increased breathing effort
- Abnormal positioning and retractions are physical signs of increased work of breathing that can easily be assessed without touching the patient
- Combined the characteristics of work of breathing abnormal airway sound, abnormal positioning, retraction, and nasal flaring to make your general assessment
- Grunting
involves exhaling against a partially closed glottis
o the short low pitch sound is best heard at the end of exhalation and is often mistaken for whimpering
o Grunting suggest moderate to severe hypoxia lower airway condition such as pneumonia, bronchitis and pulmonary oedema
sniffing position
- Tripod position
trying to align the axis of airways to improve patency and increase airflow
is creating the optimal mechanical advantage to use accessory muscles of respiration
- Retractions
represent the recruitment of accessory muscles of respiration to provide more muscle power to move air into and out of the lungs in the face of airway or lung disease or injury
o May be evident in the Super clavicular area above the clavicle, the intercostal area between the ribs, or the sub sternal area under the sternum
o Head bobbing is another form of retractions
- Nasal flaring
exaggerated opening of the nostrils during labour inspiration and indicates moderate to severe hypoxia
- The three Characteristics considered when assessing the circulation
pallor, modelling and cyanosis
- Pallor
may be the initial sign of poor circulation or even the only visual sign in a child with compensated shock
o May indicate anaemia or hypoxia
- Modelling
reflects vasomotor instability in the capillary beds as demonstrated by Alicia pattern in areas of vasoconstriction and vasodilation
Breathing assessment
- Calculating the respiratory rate, auscultating breath sounds, and checking pulse ox for oxygen saturation
assessment of circulation
pulse rate and quality, skin colour temperature in condition plus capillary refill time, and blood pressure
- Tachycardia may indicate
early hypoxia or shock or less serious condition such as fever, anxiety, pain or excitement