Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes inflammation of the alveoli (air sacs). It can affect one or both lungs and is characterized by symptoms such as cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. Pneumonia in children can be caused by various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Causes 1. Bacterial Infections: 2. […]
Failure to Thrive (FTT) is a condition in which a child fails to gain weight or grow as expected. This term typically refers to children whose growth and development are significantly below the norm for their age and sex. It can manifest as weight below the 5th percentile for age or a significant drop in
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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms occur due to bronchial hyperreactivity and inflammation, leading to narrowing of the airways. Asthma can vary in severity and is often diagnosed in childhood. Causes Asthma in children is multifactorial with both genetic
Croup, also known as laryngotracheobronchitis, is a common respiratory condition in children characterized by a combination of symptoms including a barking cough, stridor (a high-pitched wheezing sound), and hoarseness. It primarily affects young children, typically between 6 months and 3 years of age, and is usually viral in origin. Causes 1. Viral Infections: 2. Other
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden unexplainable death of a previously healthy infant who is less than 1 year old. The cause of death cannot be established by postmortem examinations. Risk factors for SIDS Prevention Nursing Implications When dealing with a family whose infant has just died of suspected SIDS in the emergency
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Thyroid studies are evaluated if a disorder of the thyroid gland is suspected. Thyroid is crucial for the normal development of the fetus and to maintain anormal metabolic function. Serum levels of thyroid hormones (Triiodothyronine (T₃), Thyroxine (T₄), Free thyroxine (FT₄) and Thyroid-stimulating hormone or thyrotropin) are used to assess the function. Thyroid abnormalities are
Blood glucose lab values are the most essential in managing diabetes mellitus. Blood sugar level is determined by the balance between absorption, storage and utilization. The body generally keeps the level of blood sugar amazingly constant despite periods of high absorption, that is, after meals and high utilization like exercise, fever, etc. The parameters that
The CD4 count test measures the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes (or CD4 cells) in a blood sample. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system by helping to coordinate the body’s response to infections. HIV specifically targets and destroys CD4 cells, which compromises the
The lipid profile, also called the lipid panel is a test used to measure the levels of different types of lipids (fats) in the blood. The main parameters measured in this panel include; Cholesterol is a major component of LDL that is present in all body tissues, cell membranes, brain, nerve cells, and some gallstones.
D-dimer is the degradation product of crosslinked (by factor XIII) fibrin. The current activation of the hemostatic system is identified by this test. D-Dimer is a test done to measure formation and lysis of a clot that results from the fibrin degradation. Normal Range The findings will depend on the units used. Indications The test
