Pediatric Nursing - Asthma Case Study PDF

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Alexandria Martin 1/21/2021 1. What factors may trigger an asthmatic episode? Asthma is typically triggered by something that irritates the airway. This would include cold air, smoking or breathing in second hand smoke, some foods, some viral infections, pet dander, stress, and exercise. 2. What are the clinical manifestations of a child experiencing an exacerbation of asthma? Chest pain, shortness of breath, and wheezing. The child may also be seen using accessory muscles to breathe or having chest retractions. 3. Explain the progression of asthma that is non-responsive to treatment. When unresponsive to treatment, the exacerbation would progress to status asthmaticus. This signifies that the child is still in respiratory distress and their usual treatment regimen is no longer working effectively. Along with the above listed symptoms of an asthma exacerbation, status asthmaticus may include cyanosis, sweating, and difficulty speaking. 4. Discuss the pathophysiology of asthma. Asthma is a chronic obstructive airway disease caused by airway edema, narrowing and irritation of the bronchioles, and increased mucous production, which leads to poor oxygen perfusion and hypoxia. 5. Discuss the following treatment modalities for the treatment of asthma and note when each is indicated: aerosolized medications by nebulizer, metered-dose inhaler, oxygen, BiPap With these treatments, we want to start with the least invasive treatment before working towards something more invasive. Use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) would be the starting point in treating for asthma. If MDIs aren’t effectively helping the patient, a nebulizer may be ordered as a daily or weekly treatment as well. Next we would resort to oxygen if the nebulizer isn’t helping, then finally a BiPAP machine if all other treatments aren’t working. 6. Discuss consent for treatment of a minor. How does the nurse proceed if the parent is unreachable? Legally, the parent or guardian has to give consent for a minor under 18 years old, with few exceptions. In an emergency situation where the parent is unreachable, the nurse and healthcare team may act by using the “reasonable person” standard. This means that we would comply with the standard of care and take all reasonable measures to keep the child alive until the parent can be reached to give consent for treatment....