Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards

1. appearance
2. work of breathing
3. circulation to skin

Tone

Is the patient:

• moving?
• limp?
• restless?
• What is the muscle tone?

Interactiveness

• How responsive?
• Paying attention?
• Does the child reach, grasp, or play?
• Uninterested?

Consolable

• Can the child be comforted?
• Is crying unrelieved?

Look/Gaze

Does the child:

• fix their gaze?
• just stares?

Speech/Cry

• Is the cry strong or weak?
• Is speech appropriate for their age?

• abnormal airway sounds
• abnormal posturing
• retractions
• flaring

• Pallor
• Mottling
• Cyanosis

1. Hold the face down on the forearm and support the head and face with your hand.
2. Give five back blows.
3. Switch the child upright.
4. Give five chest thrusts with two fingers.
5. Check the airway.

Immediately begin CPR.

A viral infection of the upper airway.

• Age typically < 5 yrs old
• Auscultation: stridor
• Bark cough
• Difficulty breathing

• Allow the child to be comfortable and do not irritate.
• Racemic Epinephrine (2.25%): 0.5 ml mixed in 3 ml normal saline.

• mild: urticaria, wheezing.
• severe: wheezing, hypotension, diffuse edema, shortness of breath, tachycardia.

• Epinephrine: 0.01 mg/kg IM (1:1,000), Max 0.3 mg every 3-5 mins.
• Diphenhydramine: 1-2 mg/kg, Max 50 mg IV.
• Albuterol: 1.25 mg nebulized with 6 LPM O₂.

A bacterial infection of supraglottic structures.

• Sitting upright in sniffing position.
• drooling
• stridor
• muffled voice

• Rapid transport

Do not:

• agitate the pt
• start an IV
• visualize the oropharynx

• Albuterol/Atrovent: 1.25 mg / 250 mcg (both are administered via nebulization)
• Epinephrine: 0.01 mg/kg IM, Max 0.3mg (1:1,000) every 5 mins.