The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old boy who has been admitted to the hospital w
ID: 121793 • Letter: T
Question
The nurse is caring for a 5-year-old boy who has been admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of asthma. On the admission assessment, the nurse notes an increased respiratory rate and wheezing throughout all lung fields. The child coughs frequently during the exam. How would you explain the signs and symptoms noted by the nurse to the pathophysiology of asthma? Does this child more likely have extrinsic or intrinsic asthma and why ? What other symptoms of asthma should the nurse monitor? The physician ordered a beta - adrenergic agonist and an inhaled corticosteroid for this child. How are both of these important in the treatment of asthma? Which one is a quick-relief medicine, and which one of these is a long-term control medication?Explanation / Answer
1. ANS: Diagnosing and managing asthma in children under age 5 can be difficult. In infants and young children, the primary symptoms of asthma are wheezing and coughing.
Common childhood asthma signs and symptoms include:
A. Frequent, intermittent coughing
B. A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
C. Shortness of breath
D. Chest congestion or tightness
E. Chest pain, particularly in younger children
2. ANS: The child is suffering with extrinsic asthma. This kind of asthma starts in the first 2 decades of the life. intrinsic asthma usually develop in adult life.
3. ANS: In this question nurse observe two main symptoms in child. They are.....
A. Wheezing occurs when the small airways of the lungs become narrow or constricted. This makes it difficult to breathe, and can cause a whistling sound when breathing out. Wheezing can be a symptom of asthma.
B. Cough variant asthma or CVA for short, is a less common form of asthma that is characterized by the fact that its only symptom is a chronic cough.
Common asthma symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest.
4. ANS: Beta adrenergic action mechanism: Activation of adrenergic receptors leads to relaxation of smooth muscle in the lung, and dilation and opening of the airways. adrenergic receptors are coupled to a stimulatory G protein of adenylyl cyclase and produces cAMP.
Asthma medications are generally divided into two categories:
A. relief (also called reliever medications):
Quick relief medications are used to relieve acute asthma exacerbations. These medications include short-acting beta agonists, anticholinergics and systemic corticosteroids, which speed recovery from acute exacerbations.
B. Long-term control (also called controller medications):
Long-term control medications include inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). long-acting beta agonists (LABAs),long-acting anticholinergics and long-acting beta agonists.