Pediatric Pneumonia & Asthma Flashcards
Is a life-long chronic inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract and is the most common chronic illness in children.
Asthma
Risk factors of asthma that affect the body’s immune responses
1) Genetics
2) Environmental exposure to allergens, stress, pollution
Asthma is characterized by:
1) Airway obstruction
2) Airway inflammation
Symptoms of asthma
- Persistent cough
- Dyspnea
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Retractions
Childhood exposure to secondhand smoke increases or decreases the risk of asthma?
Increases risk
History taking of child’s symptoms with asthma includes?
1) Child’s activity at the time symptoms began
2) Known asthma triggers of the child
3) Treatment given
4) Description of the child’s home environment, outdoor play space, classroom environment & type of heating in the house
During an asthma attack, what position should the child be?
Seated in a chair, leaning forward & raising their shoulders give them more breathing space.
Measure gross changes in peak expiratory flow and to help in planning an appropriate therapeutic regimen
Peak flow meter
Assigned to children to help determine the level of severity of their symptoms at home.
Zones
It is a small device that helps check how well asthma is controlled and measures how well air moves out of the lungs.
Peak flow meter
Primary goal of asthma management.
Prevention of airway inflammation
Types of medication used in asthma
1) Daily controllers
2) Quick relievers
3) Short-burst
Are medications that work slowly over time & is taken regularly / consistently or on a daily basis regardless of the symptoms to try to prevent asthma attacks or asthma exacerbations
Daily controllers
Examples of medications that are used as daily controllers
- Fluticasone
- Budesonide
Common side effect of fluticasone and budesonide & reminders
Development of oral thrush ; remind child to rinse mouth after each use
Are rescue medications that work quickly and is used as needed to treat acute symptoms
Quick Relievers
Examples of medications that provide quick relief in an acute asthma attack
- Albuterol / Salbutamol
Are steroids in a liquid or pill form given by mouth in a “burst” (high dose taken for a short period, usually 3-5 days)
Short burst
This tablet is used for short-burst therapy
Prednisone
Other medications used for children with more severe asthma symptoms
- Inhaled long-acting beta agonists
- Leukotriene receptor antagonust
- Mast cell stabilizers
- Immunomodulators
This medication helps to reduce inflammation in cases of severe asthma
Mast cell stabilizers
This medication modifies the immune response by increasing or decreasing the production of antibodies
Immunomodulators
Is an older term for what’s now more commonly known as Acute Severe Asthma or a Severe Asthma Exacerbation
- a severe and prolonged asthma attack that is not resposnive to 1st line to traditional asthma thearpy like bronchodilators
Status Asthmaticus
Signs & Symptoms of Status Asthmaticus
- Both HR and RR are elevated
- Altered level of alertness & responsiveness
- Appears anxious
- Both O2 saturation & pO2 are low
- pCO2 is elevated because the bronchi are so constricted the child cannot exhale, resulting in CO2 accumulation
- Limited breath sounds due to so little air passing in & out of the lungs
