Infectious Conditions in a Pediatric Patient

Infectious Conditions in a Pediatric Patient

Infectious Conditions in a Pediatric Patient

Using your course and textbook readings and the South University Online Library, 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:

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

On the basis of the above information, respond to the following:

• 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?