Health Problems in Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
What are two risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (infant or surroundings)
Maternal smoking
◦ Co-sleeping
◦ Prone sleeping
◦ Prolonged Q-T interval or other arrhythmias
due to gene mutation
◦ Soft bedding
◦ Beanbags
◦ Pillows
◦ Quilts
◦ Stuffed animals
Low Birth Weight or preterm birth
◦ Low Apgar scores
◦ Recent viral illness
◦ Siblings of two or more SIDS victims
◦ Male gender
◦ Infants of American Indian or African-
American ethnicity
What is the first line treatment of diarrhea in children?
Treat with rehydration therapy
(ORS)
• Early reintroduction of nutrients
is desirable
• In cases of severe dehydration,
IVF are initiated.
Absolute indication for tonsillectomy: name 1
Absolute indications are
recurrent throat infections
and sleep-disordered
breathing
inflammation of the middle
ear with signs of acute
infection, such as fever and
ear pain (otalgia)
acute otitis media
Increase in body weight resulting from an
excessive accumulation of body fat relative
to lean body mass in a child is known as
childhood obesity
Inadequate growth resulting from inability to obtain
or use calories required for growth
Failure to Thrive
Inappropriate voiding at least once a
month for a minimum of 3 consecutive
months is known as
enuresis
What should the nurse avoid giving a patient who had a tonsillectomy
Avoid routine suctioning to
prevent trauma to the oropharynx
Clear liquids, crushed ice, diluted
fruit juice, flavored ice pops may
be given when alert
Avoid brown or red colored fluids
to distinguish from old or fresh
bleeding if vomiting occurs
Milk products are not preferred
because they coat the throat and
may induce throat clearing or
coughing, initiating bleeding
fluid in the middle
ear without symptoms of
infection; commonly seen
with hearing loss
otitis media with effusion
Autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten in
genetically susceptible individuals. Results in intestinal
intolerance of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and
oats
celiac disease
Two other names for failure to thrive
Growth faltering
Pediatric undernutrition
Two ways to educate parents to manage night time enuresis
Education
• Behavior modification
• Medications
• Fluid restriction after the
evening meal
• Avoiding caffeine and
sugar-containing
beverages, particularly
after 4 PM
• Bedwetting alarms
• Awakening the child
during the night to void
What is the most frequent cause of hospitalization in children
RSV is the most frequent cause of hospitalization in children
younger than 1 year of age
What is seen through the otoscope when the patient has acute otitis media?
AOM manifested by moderate
to severe bulging and
erythema of the tympanic
membrane
OME manifested by immobile
tympanic membrane due
presence of fluid; may be
accompanied by poor balance
Which disease is characterized by congenital aganglionic megacolon
• Mechanical obstruction caused by inadequate motility
of part of the intestine
Hirschsprung's Disease
What common factors are found in parents who physically abuse (give 2)
Parental Characteristics
Younger parents most
often abuse their children.
Unrelated male primary
caretaker
Low self-esteem
Lack of knowledge of
appropriate parenting
skills
Parental substance abuse
Social isolation
Repeated bowel movements into bed or
clothing at least one time per month for a
period of at least 3 months in a child at
least 4 years of age, not related to a
physiologic condition or substance (such
as a laxative) is known as
encorpresis
After a tonsillectomy, what is the most obvious sign of bleeding
The most obvious early sign of bleeding is the child’s continuous swallowing of trickling blood.
Other signs of hemorrhage include tachycardia, pallor,
vomiting of bright red blood
Decreasing blood pressure is a late sign of shock
Hemorrhage may occur up to 14 days after surgery as a
result of tissue sloughing.
What are predisposing factors that lead to otitis media (give 2)
Upper respiratory infection
(URI)
Allergic rhinitis
Down syndrome
Cleft palate
Daycare attendance
Exposure to secondhand smoke
Bottle propping
Occurs when proximal
segment of the bowel
telescopes into a distal
segment
• Most common cause of
intestinal obstruction in
children between 3 months
and 6 years
intussuception
What age of child is most likely to be physically abused?
Prematurity
Birth to 1 year are at
highest risk
Children with disabilities
the most common cause for encorpresis is...
The most common cause of
encopresis is constipation
• Painful elimination can lead to
withholding. This can contribute to
a pain-retention-pain cycle
What position will a patient with epiglottitis prefer to be in...how will the child present?
Tripod position
Insists on sitting upright
Leaning forward
Chin thrust out, mouth open,
tongue protruding
Drooling of saliva is common
Irritable, restless
Croaking, froglike sound on
inspiration
Treatment
Nebulized (racemic) epinephrine
Corticosteroids
which bacteria are common causes of otitis media
Usually caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis
Muscle of the pyloric sphincter
becomes thickened, resulting in
narrowing of the pyloric channel
pyloric stenosis