Pediatric Nursing Demystified

• Promote good nutrition and prenatal care to promote health pregnancy
  and birth and decrease premature births
  Recognize the signs and symptoms of SIDS versus those of child abuse and

Nursing alertAvoid blaming or promoting guilt in the parents/guardians; avoid

statements related to how the infant death could have been prevented

Reassure parents and family that the death could not have been predicted

or prevented

Reinforce the need for an autopsy to gain information about the death

Arrange home followup for the family to help them with coping and

handling guilt and greif

Refer family to the national SIDS support group

Conclusion

The most common cause of illness in the infant and childhood population is

an infection in the respiratory tract. Infections are described and treated

according to areas of involvement. The upper respiratory tract involves the

nose and pharynx. The lower respiratory tract consists of the epiglottis, larynx,

and the trachea. These are the key pointsto remember:

The common cold is referred to as acute viral nasopharyngitis and the

prevalent symptom is fever.

Illnesses of the upper respiratory tract frequently cause otitis media.

Throat cultures positive for beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) warrant

antibiotic treatment.

Untreated GABHS infections can lead to scarlet fever otitis media and

suppurative infections of surrounding tissues.

Constant swallowing after a tonsillectomy may indicate bleeding at the

surgical site.

Children with mild croup without stridor are managed at home with high

cool humidity and increased fluids.

If the airway is compromised due to epiglottitis, immediate attention is

necessary and the nurse should prepare for intubation.

The key difference between laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB) and epiglot-

titis is the presence of a cough in (LTB).

When diagnosed with mononucleosis, patients should not participate in

activities in which the patient may receive a blow to the abdomen.

Viruses such as cytomegalovirus, influenza, adenovirus, and RSV are

the most common causative agent for pneumonia in children.

RSV is responsible for ≥80% cases of bronchiolitis in children.

Pregnant health-care providers should not care for a patient receiving ribavirin.

The quantitative sweat chloride test >60 mEq/L is used to diagnose cystic

fibrosis.

(^88) Pediatric Nursing Demystified