Common Childhood Illnesses

what is conjuctivitis

aka “pink eye”; inflammation of eyelids (palpebral) or sclera (bulbar)

education about conjunctivitis

• can be infectious, allergic, or chemical

• in newborns, contact with chlamydia and gonorrhoeae are most common cause

• very contagious

risk factors for conjunctivitis

• age < 2 weeks

• daycare

• preschool or school attendance

therapeutic management for conjuctivitis

• ophthalmic antibiotics (bacterial)

• warm compress to loosen crust from drainage

conjunctivitis s/s

• redness

• edema

• tearing

• discharge

• eye pain

• itchy eyes

otitis media education

• most common in fall/spring

• high incident in winter

• typically URI comes before

what causes otitis media to occur

bacterial/viral infection of fluid in middle ear

most common complications of otitis media

• hearing loss

• expressive speech delay

• tympanosclerosis (scaring of tympanic membrane)

• tympanic membrane perforation

• chronic drainage, intracranial infections, incl. bacterial meningitis and abscesses

when are antibiotics prescribed for otitis media

• signs of fluid in middle ear

• moderate-severe bulging of tympanic membrane or mild bulging with pain

• signs of inflammation, complains of ear pain

• new onset of otorrhea

common s/s of otitis media

• fever

• c/o otalgia

• fussiness or irritability

• crying inconsolably

• batting or tugging at ear

• poor feeding or anorexia

• lethargy

• difficulty sleeping

• fluid draining from ear

common cold

referred to as a viral URI or nasopharyngitis

when do common cold usually occur

winter

it is not unusual for a child to have how many colds in a year

6-9 colds

how long does it take a common cold to resolve?

about 7-10 days

where do the secondary bacterial infections from a cold occur?

• ear

• throat

• sinuses

• lungs

what is therapeutic management for a common cold?

symptom relief

nursing assessment for a common cold

• stuffy or runny nose

• nasal discharge (thick and watery, possibly discolored)

• hoarse

• sore throat

• fever

• fatigue

• water eyes

• appetite loss

common cold complications

• prolonged fever

• increases throat pain or enlarged, painful lymph nodes

• increased or worsening cough, chest pain, or difficulty breathing

• earache, headache, tooth or sinus pain

• unusual irritability or lethargy

• skin rash

when dose influenza primarily occur

winter

how does influenza spread

inhalation of droplets or contact

what does influenza primarily affect

upper respiratory tract

who is at greater risk for contracting influenza

children who attend daycare or school

therapeutic management of influenza

symptom relief

influenza s/s

• abrupt onset of fever

• facial flushing

• chills

• headache

• myalgia

• malaise

• cough

• nasal discharge

what is pharyngitis

inflammation of the throat mucosa

pharyngitis s/s

• asymmetrical swelling of tonsils

• shifting of uvula to one side

• palatal edema

therapeutic management for pharyngitis

symptom relief; group A strep, treat with antibiotic

tonsillitis

inflammation of tonsils

what other childhood illness can also lead to tonsillitis

pharyngitis

is tonsillitis viral or bacterial

it can be either

tx of tonsillitis

• viral: symptomatic tx

• bacterial: antibiotics

reasons for surgical intervention for tonsillitis

• reoccurring streptococcal tonsillitis

• massive tonsillar hypertrophy (swelling)

tonsillitis nursing assessment

• fever

• muffled voice or hoarse

• inspect pharynx for redness and enlargement of tonsils

• enlarged adenoids could be cause by child being a snorer or a mouth breather

• may be positive for Strep A on rapid test or culture

tonsilitis surgical care

• place on side or prone until awake

• suction carefully, if necessary

• educate parents to normal amount of blood that may appear

• maintain volume volume

• monitor for hemorrhage, watch for swallow of blood

• avoid trauma; no straws, citrus drinks, or red or brown drinks (confused for blood)

• pain relief

what is croup

inflammation and edema of larynx, trachea, and bronchi

is croup a bacterial or viral infefction

viral infection

what age group does croup affect

3 months to 3 years

what is responsibly for the majority of croup cases

parainfluenza

what is important to monitor and why

airway because inflammation, edema, and mucous production could obstruct it

croup s/s

• audible inspiratory stridor

• hoarseness

• inflammation of larynx and trachea could cause barking cough

when does the croup cough mostly occur

at night, sudden resolution of symptoms in morning

how long does croup last

about 3-5 days

croup treatment

• corticosteroid (usually single dose)

• racemic epinephrine aerosols (bronchodilator)