What precautions are used for epiglottitis?

What precautions are used for epiglottitis?

Wash hands frequently, and avoid placing fingers in the eyes, nose and mouth. Take necessary precautions around people who are coughing and sneezing. Avoid injury to the throat from drinking hot liquids or smoking.

Which treatment is appropriate for the child with epiglottitis and severe respiratory distress?

Call 911 if you think your child has epiglottitis. Treatment involves emergency care and the opening the child’s airway with a breathing tube. Your child may also get antibiotics or other medicines. The Hib vaccine can prevent most cases of epiglottitis.

Do you intubate epiglottitis?

Awake intubation is frequently described in the literature as the preferred method for securing the airway in adult patients with epiglottitis, whereas children with epiglottitis are usually intubated following an inhalational induction.

What is the nursing priority for a patient with epiglottitis?

If the medical team suspects epiglottitis, the first priority is to ensure that your or your child’s airway is open and that enough oxygen is getting through. The team will monitor your or your child’s breathing and blood oxygen level. If oxygen saturation levels drop too low, you or your child may need help breathing.

Is epiglottis an emergency?

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency. If you or someone you know suddenly has trouble breathing and swallowing, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

How does epiglottis work for kids?

The epiglottis is super for swallowing. It’s the part of your body that flops down over the windpipe when you swallow to keep food from going into your lungs. Without your epiglottis, you would cough or choke every time you eat.

How long does it take to recover from epiglottitis?

With prompt treatment, most people recover from epiglottitis after about a week and are well enough to leave hospital after 5 to 7 days.

Can you intubate a child with epiglottitis?

Orotracheal intubation or needle cricothyroidotomy (also known as percutaneous transtracheal ventilation or translaryngeal ventilation) may be necessary in emergent situations. Pediatric epiglottitis is one of the few instances in which the emergency physician may need to rapidly perform needle cricothyrotomy.

Which nursing intervention is most important to perform before administering digoxin to a child?

Monitor apical pulse for 1 full min before administering. Withhold dose and notify health care professional if pulse rate is <60 bpm in an adult, <70 bpm in a child, or <90 bpm in an infant. Notify health care professional promptly of any significant changes in rate, rhythm, or quality of pulse.