Common Health Problems in Toddlers Quiz

Toddler Development

• Gross motor development includes walking, running, and climbing
• Fine motor development includes feeding oneself, drawing, and other skills
• Sensory/Cognitive development includes seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling
• Language/Communication development includes saying single words and then sentences
• Social/Emotional development includes playing with others, taking turns, and doing fantasy play

Health Problems Common in Toddlers

• Burns are injuries to body tissue caused by excessive heat (greater than 40°C or 104°F)
• Burns are the 2nd greatest cause of unintentional injury in 1-4 year olds and the 3rd most common cause in children 5-14 years old
• Every day, over 300 children are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries

Types of Burns

• Thermal burns: caused by external heat sources (e.g. hot metals, scalding liquids, steam, and flames)
• Radiation burns: caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays (e.g. from the sun, cancer treatments, or nuclear power plant leaks)
• Chemical burns: caused by strong acids, alkalis, detergents, or solvents
• Electrical burns: caused by electrical current
• Friction burns: caused by direct damage to cells and heat generated by friction (e.g. falling on a treadmill or rope burn)

Burn Assessment

• Airway: beware of inhalation and rapid airway compromise
• Breathing: assess for respiratory involvement
• Circulation: assess for fluid replacement
• Disability: assess for compartment syndrome
• Exposure: calculate the percentage area of the burn using the Rule of Nines

Classification and Description of Burns

• First degree: affects only the epidermis, appears red, dry, and with no blisters, feels mildly painful, heals in 1-10 days
• Second degree: involves the epidermis and part of the dermis, appears red, blistered, and may be swollen, very painful, heals in 2-6 weeks
• Third degree: involves the epidermis and full extent of the dermis, appears white or charred, lacks sensation, requires skin grafting, heals in months
• Fourth degree: extends into muscle and bone, requires skin grafting, may cause permanent damage

Poisoning

• Common causes of poisoning: soap, cosmetics, detergents, plants, OTC drugs, vitamins, aspirin, and acetaminophen
• Emergency management at home: call the National Poison Control Center, provide information on what was swallowed, child's weight and age, and how long ago the poisoning occurred
• Emergency management at the healthcare facility: administer activated charcoal, provide information on the child's present condition

Acetaminophen Poisoning

• Causes extreme permanent liver destruction
• Symptoms: anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and increased SGPT and SGOT
• Antidote: acetylcysteine or activated charcoal

Caustic Poisoning

• Causes burns and tissue necrosis in the mouth, esophagus, and stomach
• Assessment: pain in mouth and throat, drooling saliva
• Therapeutic management: don't let the child vomit, bring to the nearest hospital, don't administer activated charcoal, IV morphine for pain, X-ray, laryngoscopy, and esophagoscopy

Iron Poisoning

• Causes severe gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
• Immediate effects: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Effects after 6-12 hours: melena, hematemesis, cyanosis, vasomotor collapse, coagulation defects, hepatic injury, and lethargy
• Therapeutic management: don't give activated charcoal, stomach lavage, administer cathartics, administer Maalox or Mylanta, IV or IM Deferoxamine, GI X-ray, and liver studies

Lead Poisoning

• Causes hypochromic, microcytic anemia, kidney destruction, and encephalitis or inflammation of brain cells
• Assessment: lethargy, impulsiveness, learning difficulties, and blood lead level >5µg/dl
• Therapeutic management: chelation therapy, removal of the source of lead, and support for symptoms