Asthma Exacerbation - Essay Example

"Asthma Exacerbation" is a decent example of a paper on the respiratory system.
Based on this case, I diagnose the patient with Asthma exacerbation. This is a condition that affects the airway; inflaming it and blocking the airflow. Analysis of the case study verifies that the symptoms were brought about by the respiratory viral infection.

What other questions in history would have been helpful in this diagnosis, and why?

History questions are useful in the diagnosis process to help in proper assessment of the disease. These questions will enable the medical practitioner to track the cause of the condition. Examples of such questions include:

1. When did the runny nose cough start?
2. Has the child developed such symptoms before?
3. Does the child feed slowly or experiences shortness of breath while feeding?
4. Is the child inactive/ experiences a decreased desire to run or play?
5. Does the child cough when playing? Or become fatigued easily?
6. Do the child’s colds last longer than usual?
7. Does the child experience frequent coughing that gets worse at night?
8. Were any medications given? If so, which ones?
9. Does the family has a history of asthma?
10. Is the child allergic to anything?
11. Have the patient experienced any seizures before?
12. Has the patient ever had another serious medical emergency? If so when? What was it exactly?
13. Does the child have a history of viral respiratory infection or any other infections?
14. When did the wheezing sound commence? Has this happened before?
15. What medication did the patient take before the attack?
16. Has the patient ever been admitted in an ICU? If so, was the patient intubated?
17. While on systemic steroids, has the condition of the patient improved or deteriorated?

What medications would be helpful in treating this patient?

According to McCance and Huether (2014), the initial therapy is the relief of acute airway constriction (p. 1308). Treatment must be conducted immediately a diagnosis is made. Therefore, medications that are helpful in treating this patient include bronchodilators and oxygen therapy. Bronchodilator medications act as quick relievers, as they improve the immediate relief of the condition. They include albuterol, levalbuterol, and pirbuterol. Corticosteroids control airway inflammation. Subsequent to treatment, the patient has to be monitored, as this is useful in a proper care plan. After recovering, the patient must proceed with long-term maintenance medications. They include inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, cromolyn, combination inhalers, and theophylline.

What do you think the plan of care will be for this patient, and why?

A comprehensive care plan will let the parent/ guardian and medical practitioner know if the treatment is working based on the child’s symptoms, note any side effects brought about by the medication, check how well the child’s lungs are working, measure the child’s symptoms and activities, and adjust medications when symptoms do not improve. A written asthma care plan must be well written, as this is useful in the proper management of the child’s condition. The appropriate plan of care for this patient is the ‘stoplight’ system of red, yellow, and green zones that correspond to worsening symptoms. This is because the patient is an infant and is in a critical position. This will prevent any future instances of exacerbation and decrease chronic morbidity (Brashers, 2006).