Which intervention would the nurse perform when caring for an infant with RSV infection?

There are steps you can take to help prevent the spread of RSV. Specifically, if you have cold-like symptoms you should

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Supportive care
Hospital care
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Lifestyle and home remedies
Preparing for your appointment
What you can do
What to expect from your doctor
Which of the following should be a priority nursing intervention for an infant with bronchiolitis?
Which is an appropriate nursing intervention for a 6 month old infant with bronchiolitis?
Which is the first line of treatment for the child with epiglottitis and severe respiratory distress?
What symptom would the nurse expect to find in a child with acute Laryngotracheobronchitis LTB?

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils, with others
Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices

Ideally, people with cold-like symptoms should not interact with children at high risk for severe RSV disease, including premature infants, children younger than 2 years of age with chronic lung or heart conditions, and children with weakened immune systems. If this is not possible, they should carefully follow the prevention steps mentioned above and wash their hands before interacting with such children. They should also refrain from kissing high-risk children while they have cold-like symptoms.

Parents of children at high risk for developing severe RSV disease should help their child, when possible, do the following

Avoid close contact with sick people
Wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid touching their face with unwashed hands
Limit the time they spend in child-care centers or other potentially contagious settings, especially during fall, winter, and spring. This may help prevent infection and spread of the virus during the RSV season

Researchers are working to develop RSV vaccines, but none are available yet. A drug called palivizumab (pah-lih-VIH-zu-mahb) is available to prevent severe RSV illness in certain infants and children who are at high risk for severe disease. This could include, for example, infants born prematurely or with congenital (present from birth) heart disease or chronic lung disease. The drug can help prevent serious RSV disease, but it cannot help cure or treat children already suffering from serious RSV disease, and it cannot prevent infection with RSV. If your child is at high risk for severe RSV disease, talk to your healthcare provider to see if palivizumab can be used as a preventive measure.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may suspect respiratory syncytial virus based on the findings of a physical exam and the time of year the symptoms occur. During the exam, the doctor will listen to the lungs with a stethoscope to check for wheezing or other abnormal sounds.

Laboratory and imaging tests aren't usually needed. However, they can help diagnose RSV complications or rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms. Tests may include:

Blood tests to check white cell counts or to look for viruses, bacteria and other germs
Chest X-rays to check for lung inflammation
Swab of secretions from inside the mouth or nose to check for signs of the virus
Pulse oximetry, a painless skin monitor, to detect lower than normal levels of oxygen in the blood

Treatment

Treatment for respiratory syncytial virus generally involves self-care measures to make your child more comfortable (supportive care). But hospital care may be needed if severe symptoms occur.

Supportive care

Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to reduce fever. (Never give aspirin to a child.) Use of nasal saline drops and suctioning may help clear a stuffy nose. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if there's a bacterial complication, such as bacterial pneumonia.

Keep your child as comfortable as possible. Offer plenty of fluids and watch for signs of loss of body fluids (dehydration), such as dry mouth, little to no urine output, sunken eyes, and extreme fussiness or sleepiness.

Hospital care

If the RSV infection is severe, a hospital stay may be necessary. Treatments at the hospital may include:

Intravenous (IV) fluids
Humidified oxygen
A breathing machine (mechanical ventilation), in rare cases

An inhaler (bronchodilator) or steroids are not proved to be helpful in treating RSV infection.

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Lifestyle and home remedies

You may not be able to shorten the length of a respiratory syncytial virus infection, but you can try to relieve some signs and symptoms.

If your child has RSV, do your best to comfort or distract him or her — cuddle, read a book or play a quiet game. Other tips for relieving symptoms are:

Create moist air to breathe. Keep the room warm but not overheated. If the air is dry, a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and help ease congestion and coughing. Be sure to keep the humidifier clean to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds.
Drink fluids. Continue breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your infant as you would normally. For older children and adults, keep a steady supply of cool water at the bedside. Offer warm fluids, such as soup, which may help loosen thickened secretions. Ice pops may be soothing as well.
Try saline nasal drops. Over-the-counter (OTC) drops are a safe, effective way to ease congestion, even for young children. Follow your doctor's recommendations and the instructions on the product.
Use over-the-counter pain relievers. OTC pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help reduce fever and relieve a sore throat. Ask a doctor for the correct dose for your child's age.
Stay away from cigarette smoke. Secondhand smoke can aggravate symptoms.

Preparing for your appointment

Unless severe symptoms result in an emergency room (ER) visit, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or your child's doctor. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you may want to make a list of:

Any symptoms you noticed and when they started, even if they seem unrelated to an upper respiratory infection.
Key medical information, such as if your child was born prematurely or if he or she has a heart or lung problem.
Details about child care, considering other locations where your family may have been exposed to respiratory infections.
Questions to ask your doctor. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.

Questions to ask your doctor may include:

What is likely causing these symptoms? Are there other possible causes?
What tests might be needed?
How long do symptoms usually last?
What is the best treatment?
Is medication needed? If you're prescribing a brand-name medication, is there a generic alternative?
What can I do to make my child feel better?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home? What websites do you recommend?
To what extent should I isolate my child while infected?

Don't hesitate to ask any additional questions you may think of during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

When did you first notice symptoms?
Do the symptoms come and go or are they continuous?
How severe are the symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen symptoms?
Is anyone else in the family ill? What symptoms does he or she have?

Your doctor will ask additional questions based on your responses, symptoms and needs. Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your time with the doctor.

Jan. 09, 2021

Which of the following should be a priority nursing intervention for an infant with bronchiolitis?

Maintaining patent airway is always the first priority, especially in cases like trauma, acute neurological decompensation, or cardiac arrest. Assess respirations. Note quality, rate, pattern, depth, flaring of nostrils, dyspnea on exertion, evidence of splinting, use of accessory muscles, and position for breathing.

Which is an appropriate nursing intervention for a 6 month old infant with bronchiolitis?

The management of bronchiolitis is supportive hydration and oxygen. No specific medications treat the infection.

Which is the first line of treatment for the child with epiglottitis and severe respiratory distress?

The first priority in treating epiglottitis is ensuring that you or your child is receiving enough air. This may mean: Wearing a mask. The mask delivers oxygen to the lungs.

What symptom would the nurse expect to find in a child with acute Laryngotracheobronchitis LTB?

Croup—also known as acute laryngotracheobronchitis—is an upper respiratory condition that often affects infants and young children. Typical symptoms in affected patients include a barking cough and respiratory distress.