N213: Health Differences Across the Life Span 3

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide ©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 29 of 204 Perform frequent temperature checks • Give antipyretics for fever • Institute cooling measures, especially in boys withorchitis • Monitor for nuchal rigidity and Kernig’s sign formeningitis • Offer small, frequent meals with soft diet • Encourage increased fluid intake • Offer ice cream, popsicles, and cool, clear liquids • Give thorough teaching to parents on immunizations • Encourage bed rest until fever subsides, then activity as tolerated Expected outcomes for mumps: • Verbalizes relief of symptoms and fever • Demonstrates increased dietary intake and adequate fluid intake • Demonstrates increased activity levels • Verbalizes knowledge of immunizations Epiglottitis Epiglottitis is caused by haemophilus influenza, S. pneumonia, and beta-hemolytic streptococcus bacteria. It is a very severe inflammation of the epiglottis, which is the cartilage at the back of the throat that closes during swallowing. It is also called supraglottitis and is a type of croup. The younger the patient, the more severe the symptoms. It usually occurs in children between two and five years of age. This is a serious infection and can be potentially life threatening, especially in infants where the swelling can be severe enough to cause total airway obstruction. Nurses help parents to understand that they need to stay on schedule with their child’s HiB series of immunizations to help prevent the H. influenza form of this infection. This immunization will not prevent the streptococcal and S. pneumonia forms of epiglottis. Nurses should explain symptoms of this infection thoroughly and instruct parents of infants, as well as parents of children ages two through five, to seek medical care if symptoms of epiglottitis develop. Signs and symptoms of epiglottitis: • High fever • Throat pain • Stridor • Chills • Cyanosis • Drooling • Tachycardia • Pharyngitis • Tripod positioning (sitting forward) • Dysphagia • Hoarseness Nursing diagnosis for mumps: •

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