Pediatric Nursing Demystified

Nonaspirin analgesics and antipyretics.

If left untreated, GABHS infections can lead to

• Scarlet fever


• Otitis media


• Suppurative infections of surrounding tissues
  Tonsillectomyis recommended for recurrent streptococcal infections
  and massive hypertrophy.
   Tonsillectomies are reserved for children >3 years of age due to
  excessive blood loss and a potential for the tonsils to grow back.

Nursing Interventions

Baseline assessment prior to the procedure.

Postsurgical assessments include close monitoring with high alert for

bleeding and infection.

Nursing alert Frequent swallowing following a tonsillectomy is a cardinal

sign of bleeding at the surgical site.

Croup Syndrome

What Went Wrong?

Croup syndromeis a very common viral syndrome applied to a symptom

complex characterized by hoarseness and a cough described as “barking” that

results from an inspiratory stridorsound produced when there is obstruction

of the larynx and trachea. Croup syndrome affects the

Larynx

Trachea

Bronchi to varying degrees, resulting in

• Laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB)


• Epiglottitis


• Laryngitis

Signs and Symptoms

Manifestation of croup include a “barking” cough, nasal drainage, sore throat,

and low-grade fever.

Acute Laryngotracheobronchitis

What Went Wrong?

Laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB)is the most common type of croup and

primarily affects children <5 years of age. The disease process is an inflam-

mation of the mucosa lining the larynx and trachea causing a narrowing of

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