Pediatric Nursing: Respiratory, Cognitive, Behavioral, Sensory, and Cardiovascular Disorders

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering pediatric upper and lower respiratory conditions, cognitive, behavioral, and developmental disorders, eye and ear pathologies, and congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases.

Pediatric Upper Airway Anatomy

Anatomical characteristics of infants and young children, including obligate nose-breathing, small nasal passages, undeveloped sinuses until age $6\text{--}8\,\text{years}$, a proportionally large tongue, large tonsils/adenoids, a smaller airway lumen, and narrowest alignment at the cricoid cartilage.

Sinusitis

Infection of the paranasal sinuses, mainly involving the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses in young children and frontal sinuses after age $10\,\text{years}$; characterized by fever, nasal drainage lasting over $10\,\text{days}$, and facial pain or swelling.

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

An oral antiviral medication administered for $5\,\text{days}$ to treat influenza, which must be initiated within the first $24\text{--}48\,\text{hours}$ of symptom onset to be effective.

Acute Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the throat mucosa caused by Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS), presenting with sore throat, fever, exudative tonsils, strawberry tongue, halitosis, and a sandpaper-like rash (Scarlet Fever).

Post-Tonsillectomy Care

Postoperative nursing management following tonsil removal, including side-lying positioning until awake, avoiding straws and red fluids, watching for frequent swallowing as an indicator of hemorrhage, and discouraging traumatic airway suctioning.

Infectious Mononucleosis

An acute, self-limiting viral illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and transmitted via saliva, presenting with fever, sore throat, exudative pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly (requiring temporary restriction from contact sports).

Acute Epiglottitis

A life-threatening, rapidly progressive inflammatory swelling of the epiglottis most commonly caused by Haemophilus influenzae Type B (Hib) in children aged $2\text{--}7\,\text{years}$, characterized by drooling, dysphagia, distress, and a tripod stance; throat inspection with a tongue blade is strictly contraindicated.

Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis)

A viral inflammatory obstruction of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi most often caused by Parainfluenza virus, characterized by a seal-like barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and suprasternal retractions.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

A highly contagious virus causing necrosis of the respiratory epithelium and hypersecretion of mucus, leading to bronchiolitis in infants; apnea may be the initial clinical manifestation in young infants.

Pneumonia

Inflammation of the lung parenchyma caused by viral, bacterial, fungal, or mycoplasmal pathogens, presenting with fever, cough, tachypnea, retractions, and pulmonary infiltrates or consolidation on chest X-ray.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

An acute, highly contagious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, characterized by paroxysmal nocturnal coughing fits followed by a high-pitched inspiratory crowing or 'whoop' sound and post-tussive emesis.

Allergic Rhinitis

A seasonal inflammatory reaction of the nasal mucosa to environmental allergens, manifesting with rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, watery eyes, and the 'classical allergic salute' (upward nasal rubbing).

Asthma

A chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness, mucosal edema, bronchospasm, and reversible airflow obstruction; associated with the atopic triad of asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis.

Short-Acting $\beta_2$-Agonist (SABA)

Quick-relief bronchodilators (such as albuterol) with an onset of $5\text{--}10\,\text{minutes}$, utilized for acute asthma exacerbations, prior to exercise, or before inhaled corticosteroids; administered using a spacer device.

Cystic Fibrosis

An autosomal recessive exocrine gland dysfunction that produces abnormally thick secretions obstructing respiratory, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, and sweat glands; diagnosed via elevated sweat chloride, meconium ileus, greasy stools, and barrel chest.

Foreign Body Aspiration (FBA)

Inhalation of a solid or liquid object into the respiratory tract (most frequently lodging in the mainstem bronchus), resulting in choking, coughing, stridor, and asymmetric breath sounds; definitively diagnosed and treated via bronchoscopy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A psychotherapeutic intervention that helps children recognize automatic negative thought patterns and replace them with constructive alternative responses.

Milieu Therapy

A structured inpatient or residential therapeutic environment designed to develop adaptive and social skills while maintaining safety for children at risk for self-harm or aggression.

Learning Disabilities

Neurological conditions affecting academic skills including reading (dyslexia), mathematics (dyscalculia), motor coordination (dyspraxia), or written expression (dysgraphia), requiring compensatory teaching methods and an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

A congenital disorder resulting from in utero alcohol exposure, presenting with physical features such as a low nasal bridge, short upturned nose, flattened midface, long philtrum, narrow upper lip, microcephaly, and growth failure.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent impairments in social interaction, deficits in communication, lack of imaginative play, resistance to routine changes, and repetitive motor behaviors (e.g., hand flapping, toe walking).

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that impair executive functioning, organizational skills, and academic performance.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by severe self-starvation and distorted body image, producing systemic physical manifestations such as osteoporosis, dry scaly skin, lanugo hair growth, halitosis, and cerebral atrophy.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory purging (self-induced vomiting, laxatives/diuretics, or excessive exercise), presenting physically with knuckle calluses, split nails, tooth enamel erosion, and inflamed throat tissue.

Nonaccidental Physical Abuse Injury Sites

Specific anatomical locations where physical injuries in children strongly suggest nonaccidental trauma, including soft tissue zones such as the cheeks, upper arms, chest, abdomen, lower back, buttocks, and inner thighs.

Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)

Severe intracranial injury caused by violent shaking or impact in infants, presenting with retinal hemorrhages, bulging fontanels, vomiting, lethargy, seizures, posturing, and altered consciousness without requiring visible external bruises.

Acute Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the bulbar or palpebral conjunctiva classified as bacterial (purulent discharge), viral (watery discharge, photophobia, lymphadenopathy), or allergic (stringy discharge, marked itching).

Orbital Cellulitis

A deep bacterial infection of the tissues behind the orbital septum, presenting with pain during eye movement, double or blurry vision, fever, and proptosis (eyeball bulging).

Hordeolum (Stye)

An acute, localized, painful bacterial infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid, managed primarily with warm compresses and topical antibiotic ointment.

Chalazion

A chronic, painless inflammatory cyst or granuloma of the meibomian gland within the eyelid, which typically resolves spontaneously or through minor surgical intervention.

Strabismus

Misalignment of the eyes classified according to the direction of deviation: esotropia (inward), exotropia (outward), hypertropia (upward), or hypotropia (downward).

Pediatric Eustachian Tube Anatomy

Anatomical structure of the middle ear in infants and young children characterized by eustachian tubes that are shorter, wider, and positioned more horizontally than in adults, predisposing them to middle ear fluid retention and infection.

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

An infection of the middle ear space commonly following a viral upper respiratory infection, presenting with ear pain (otalgia), fever, irritability, ear tugging, and an erythematous, bulging tympanic membrane.

Otitis Externa ('Swimmer's Ear')

An infection of the external auditory canal caused by pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus, presenting with severe otalgia, foul drainage, and marked tenderness upon movement of the tragus or pinna.

Conductive Hearing Loss

A form of hearing impairment caused by disrupted transmission of sound waves through the outer or middle ear structures to the inner ear, such as from fluid accumulation or cerumen impaction.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

A form of hearing impairment resulting from damage to the delicate hair cells of the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve, disrupting transmission of neural impulses to the brain.

Pediatric Pulse Points

Specific arterial locations routinely assessed for rate, rhythm, equality, and volume in pediatric patients, including radial, carotid, brachial, apical, temporal, femoral, dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial, and popliteal sites.

Cardiac Catheterization Post-Procedure Care

Nursing management following femoral cardiac catheterization, including strict bedrest with the leg held straight for $4\text{--}8\,\text{hours}$, monitoring distal extremity pulses and temperature, inspecting insertion site dressings, and applying pressure $1\,\text{inch}$ above the site if active bleeding occurs.

Digoxin

An inotropic cardiac glycoside that increases myocardial contractility; requires withholding the dose if apical heart rate is $<90\,\text{bpm}$ in infants/young children or $<60\,\text{bpm}$ in older children, and monitoring for toxicity signs such as bradycardia and vomiting.

Tet Spells (Hypercyanotic Spells)

Acute episodes of cyanosis, hypoxemia, dyspnea, and agitation in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot, managed emergently by placing the child in a knee-to-chest position to increase systemic vascular resistance.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

A congenital defect caused by failure of the fetal ductus arteriosus to close, resulting in left-to-right shunting, a continuous machinery systolic murmur, wide pulse pressure, and bounding peripheral pulses; treated with indomethacin or surgery.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

An abnormal opening in the septum separating the right and left ventricles that allows left-to-right shunting, presenting with a loud systolic murmur and risk for congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)

A cyanotic congenital heart disease characterized by four classic structural defects (DROP): Displaced (overriding) aorta, Right ventricular hypertrophy, Opening in ventricular septum (VSD), and Pulmonary stenosis.

Coarctation of the Aorta

An obstructive congenital cardiac defect marked by localized narrowing of the aorta near the ductus arteriosus, causing elevated blood pressure and bounding pulses in upper extremities alongside low blood pressure and diminished pulses in lower extremities.

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)

A cyanotic mixed congenital defect where the aorta arises from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arises from the left ventricle, requiring a patent ductus arteriosus or septal defect to allow oxygenation until surgical repair.

Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF)

An autoimmune inflammatory disease occurring $2\text{--}6\,\text{weeks}$ following untreated Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcal pharyngitis, diagnosed using the Jones Criteria (carditis, subcutaneous nodules, migratory polyarthritis, erythema marginatum, Sydenham chorea) and managed with long-term antibiotic prophylaxis.

Kawasaki Disease

An acute systemic vasculitis affecting children under $5\,\text{years}$ of age, diagnosed by fever lasting $>5\,\text{days}$ plus clinical criteria (extremity edema/peeling, bilateral non-exudative conjunctivitis, strawberry tongue, polymorphous rash, cervical lymphadenopathy); treated with IVIG and aspirin to prevent coronary artery aneurysms.