Page 72 - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

INOVACIJE I IZAZOVI U OBRAZOVANJU I SESTRINSKOJ SKRBI - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

Nurse Interventions in Paediatric Patient Assessment

Suffering from Asthma – Case Report

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It is
characterized by airway hyperreactivity by various stimuli, which results in airway obstruction,
airway edema and airway hypersecretion. Hyperreactivity is reversible, spontaneous and can
be a sign of uncontrolled asthma . Asthma often occurs in children with a family history of
atopy. Symptoms and exacerbations are caused by various triggers (viral infections, tobacco
smoke, allergens, air pollution). Diagnosis in childhood is sometimes difficult. When a disease
is suspected by anamnestic data it needs to be confirmed by various diagnostic procedures.
Importance of asthma treatment in childhood is achieving good/complete control of the asthma
symptoms, minimize the risk of exacerbation and prevent progressive lung function loss.
Patient P.D. (age 9) has been treated in Childrens Hospital Srebrnjak for asthma, allergic rhinitis
and recurrent respiratory infections with complications. In patient is suspected poorly
controlled asthma (by frequent hospitalizations due to exacerbation of asthma and acute
respiratory infections). With each hospitalization, the patient is admitted in a bad general
condition, with dyspnea, and requires oxygen support and further therapeutic and diagnostic
treatments. Nurse interventions are aimed at health care, education, treatment, prevention of
complications and, most importantly, improvement of quality of life with good asthma control.
Parental education includes: methods and importamce of applying proper and regularly
prescribed therapy, recognition and avoidance of risk factors through asthma school,
environmental control. Hospitalisation includes planned patient discharge.

Accent the need to educate nurses about procedures, interventions and possible therapeutic
methods in the care of children and adolescents with asthma, all for the purpose of providing
and achieving good control of the disease, and thus the optimal quality of life of the patients.

The purpose of health care and nursing care in the treatment of asthma is based on the
implementation of diagnostic and therapeutic methods with the aim of maintaining a good
general condition of the patient, avoiding exacerbations and hospitalizations, and is achieved
through good education of children and parents, and a partnership between the patient and
parents with health professionals who carry out education.

Key words: asthma, education, nursing, exacerbation, child

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