Pediatric Pulmonary Flashcards
What are characteristics of airway cartilage in infants?
Soft and compressible
How do infants breath and why can this be problematic?
Through their nose and their nares are small
Why can infection spread quicker in infants anatomically?
Everything is smaller and closer together.
An infant’s metabolism is faster so they require….
More oxygen
What is the diaphragm made out of in infants?
Muscle fibers
Since infants have a lower number of alveoli, they need to…
breathe faster to get the oxygen.
What do you observe during a respiratory assessment?
Affect, color, respiratory rate, accessory muscle use, retractions.
Where are the different retraction sites?
Suprasternal, Substernal, Clavicular, Intercostal, Subcostal
What kind of accessory muscles do infants use?
Abdominal
What change should you look for during feeding and sleeping?
Oxygenation
What do you note upon auscultating lungs?
Quality of air movement, any adventitious breath sounds, may breath shallow at night.
What are the common kinds of adventitious breath sounds?
Wheezing, Course crackles (rhonci), fine crackles (rales), stridor (audible wheeze)
What is sinusitis?
Infection and inflammation of the sinus cavaties, usually from a staph, strep, or H. flu infection.
How do you treat sinusitis?
Antipyretics, analgesics, antibiotics, nasal spray, (advil, tylenol)
What are some complications of sinusitis?
osteomylitus of facial bones.
Does sinusitis affect upper or lower airway?
Upper.
What is Laryngitis?
Usually caused by a virus that causes hoarseness and URI symptoms.
How do you treat laryngitis?
Treat symptoms- fluids, pain and fever relievers.
Which part of the airway does laryngitis affect?
Upper.
What is acute laryngotracheobronchitis?
Croup- swelling or obstruction of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi caused by parainfluenza virus, flu type A and B, adenovirus, RSV, and mycoplasm pneumoniae.
What are symptoms of croup?
Hoarseness, barking, brassy, croupy cough, inspiratory stridor, low grade fever, wheezing, retractions.
Does croup affect the upper or lower airway?
Upper.
What is spasmodic croup, or midnight croup?
Paroxysmal attacks of laryngeal obstruction that occurs mainly at night, mild/no inflammation, lasts 2-5 days.
What are symptoms of midnight croup?
No fever, no inflammation, lasts 2-5 days, awaken by barking cough, hoarseness, noisy respiration, well during the day besides hoarseness.
How do you manage croup at home?
Mist, either warm or cool- whichever works. Humidity, possibly exposure to cold air.
How do you manage croup in the hospital?
Maintain airway, high humidity, cool mist, fluids, nebulized epinephrine, corticosteroids.
What is acute epiglottitis?
Supraglottic obstruction that results in severe respiratory distress and requires immediate attention.