Hello follow instruction, APA format at 6 references no older than 5 years old
- 1) Perform research on the following:
Assessment, diagnostic testing, and management of infectious conditions in a pediatric patient
- Differential diagnoses for presentation of symptoms involving infectious diseases in pediatric patients
- After completing your research, consider this scenario:
- What will be your differential diagnoses for this patient?
- What specific physical exam findings support these differential diagnoses?
- Of the differential diagnoses you listed, which would be the most concerning?
- What additional diagnostic tests will you recommend? Why?
- What would be your focus for caregiver education?
An eighteen-month-old child, well-known to your practice, presents with a seven-day history of fever ranging from 101 to 104.7 degrees Fahrenheit. On the fourth day of the fever, the emergency department had performed the following tests:
A blood and urine culture
A complete blood count
A comprehensive metabolic panel
The culture reports were found to be negative.
Today, the vitals of the child are the following:
Temperature: 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit
Heart rate: 120 beats/minute
Respiratory rate: 20 breaths/ minute
Blood pressure: 90/40
Physical examination of the child indicates the following positive findings:
Injected conjunctiva
Palmar redness
Magenta-colored lips
Red macula
Excoriating rashes in the diaper area
C. On the basis of the above information, respond to the following:
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Infectious conditions in pediatric patients are common and can pose a significant challenge in terms of diagnosis and management. As a medical professor, it is vital to have a thorough understanding of the assessment, diagnostic testing, and management of infectious diseases in pediatric patients. In this scenario, an 18-month child presents with a seven-day history of fever, and we are tasked with providing a differential diagnosis, identifying physical exam findings, recommending further testing, and providing caregiver education.
1. Differential diagnoses for presentation of symptoms involving infectious diseases in pediatric patients:
Infectious diseases in pediatric patients can present with a wide range of symptoms, making it challenging to provide a definitive diagnosis. However, based on the symptoms presented in this scenario, the differential diagnoses may include viral infections such as measles, rubella, or roseola, bacterial infections such as staphylococcal or streptococcal infections, or parasitic infections such as diaper rash caused by candida.
2. What specific physical exam findings support these differential diagnoses?
The physical exam findings in the scenario suggest that the child may be suffering from a viral or bacterial infection. Positive findings such as injected conjunctiva, palmar redness, magenta-colored lips, and red macula may be indicative of a viral infection such as measles, rubella, or roseola. Alternatively, the presence of excoriating rashes in the diaper area may be suggestive of a candida infection, particularly if the child has been on antibiotics.
3. Of the differential diagnoses you listed, which would be the most concerning?
Of the differential diagnoses, a bacterial infection would be the most concerning, particularly if it has already spread to the bloodstream. This may result in sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention and treatment.
4. What additional diagnostic tests will you recommend? Why?
Based on the negative blood and urine culture reports, additional diagnostic tests may include throat and urine cultures to rule out streptococcal or staphylococcal infections. Additionally, a skin scraping or culture may be necessary to confirm or rule out a candida infection. A rapid antigen test for measles and rubella may also be useful in ruling out viral infections.
5. What would be your focus for caregiver education?
Caregiver education should focus on the importance of proper hygiene such as frequent handwashing and sterilization of toys to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Caregivers should also be educated on the signs and symptoms of infectious diseases, such as fever, rash, and cough, and when to seek medical attention. It would be essential to emphasize the importance of completing the full course of any prescribed antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.