Week 2 Discussion Question-Chronic Illness

A 5-year-old child and her mother present to the clinic with symptoms: a persistent cough, wheezing, right ear pain, and dry scaly patches on the elbows and behind the knees. The clinical presentation necessitates a careful differential diagnosis to address each symptom accurately.

Differential Diagnosis

Asthma

The coughing and wheezing that the child experiences may be due to asthma, a chronic ailment in children characterized by airway inflammation. Her symptoms, which worsen when she gets a cold, are consistent with those of common asthma attacks. In children, confirmation entails detailed clinical history and physical examination, including spirometry if the child is willing (Lizzo & Cortes, 2023).

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

Pain in the right ear is indicative of AOM, a common condition among children, especially after upper respiratory infections. The diagnosis is quite simple and can be clinically confirmed by otoscopic examination, where the tympanic membrane is seen to be inflamed, and the middle ear is filled with effusion (Jamal et al., 2022).

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

The skin changes on the child’s elbows and behind her knees indicate atopic dermatitis, which is commonly referred to as eczema and is related to other atopic diseases. Diagnosis is normally clinical, based on the characteristics of the skin lesions and the patient’s history.

Prescriptions and Rationales

Asthma Management

Prescribing an albuterol inhaler can provide rapid relief from acute symptoms by dilating the airways. If symptoms persist, consider a daily inhaled corticosteroid.

Acute Otitis Media Treatment

For AOM, amoxicillin is the first-line antibiotic, dosed at 80-90 mg/kg/day, effective against common bacteria. Follow-up evaluations in 48-72 hours are essential if symptoms do not improve (Danishyar & Ashurst, 2023).

Atopic Dermatitis Management

For atopic dermatitis, hydrocortisone 1% cream can reduce inflammation and itching. Regular moisturizing with emollients and avoiding known irritants can prevent flare-ups and manage eczema.

Conclusion

Symptoms described for the child should be treated in a comprehensive manner. Treatment of each condition requires its specific medication: albuterol for asthma, amoxicillin for AOM, and hydrocortisone for atopic dermatitis. Subsequent assessments are crucial in tracking the treatment outcome and making modifications to the child’s management plan.

References

Danishyar, A., & Ashurst, J. V. (2023, April 15). Acute otitis media. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470332/

Jamal, A., Alsabea, A., Tarakmeh, M., & Safar, A. (2022). Aetiology, diagnosis, complications, and management of acute otitis media in children. Cureus, 14(8). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28019

Lizzo, J. M., & Cortes, S. (2023). Pediatric Asthma. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551631/

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Week 2 Discussion Question-Chronic Illness

Discussion Prompt

A 5 year old child and her mother present to your clinic. The mother reports that the child has had a cough and sounds “wheezy” for the last 2 days. She states that the child always gets like this when she is sick. She also reports that the child has been complaining that her right ear hurts. In addition, you notice dry scaly patches on the child’s elbows and behind her knees.

What are your differentials and diagnosis. What would you prescribe for each condition. Remember to include your rationales.

Expectations

Initial Post:

Week 2 Discussion Question-Chronic Illness

• Length: A minimum of 275 words, not including references
• Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years