This week’s content addressed common chronic diseases.  Please review the case study below and answer the following questions:

A sixty-year-old baker presents to your clinic, complaining of increasing shortness of breath and nonproductive cough over the last month. She feels like she can’t do as much activity as she used to do without becoming tired. She even has to sleep upright in her recliner at night to be able to breathe comfortably. She denies any chest pain, nausea, or sweating. Her past medical history is significant for high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. She had a hysterectomy in her 40s for heavy vaginal bleeding. She is married and is retiring from the local bakery soon. She denies any tobacco, alcohol, or drug use. Her mother died of a stroke, and her father died from prostate cancer. She denies any recent upper respiratory illness, and she has had no other symptoms. On examination, she is in no acute distress. Her blood pressure is 160/100, and her pulse is 100. She is afebrile, and her respiratory rate is 16. With auscultation, she has distant air sounds and she has late inspiratory crackles in both lower lobes. On cardiac examination, the S1 and S2 are distant and an S3 is heard over the apex. What is the chief complaint? Based on the subjective and objective information provided what are your 3 top differential diagnosis listing the presumptive final diagnosis first? What treatment plan would you consider utilizing current evidence based practice guidelines? Submission Details: Post your response to the Discussion Area by the due date assigned. Respond to atleast two posts by the end of the week.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION;

Introduction

Shortness of breath is a common symptom that can occur in children and teens, but it’s not always a clear sign of a health problem. Shortness of breath might be caused by asthma, pneumonia or another disease. If your child has shortness of breath and you’re not sure what’s causing it, don’t wait to see a doctor.

Causes of shortness of breath

Shortness of breath is a common problem that many people experience. It can be caused by many different conditions, but the most common causes are:

• Heart disease

• Lung diseases like asthma or emphysema

• Congestive heart failure (CHF)

The symptoms usually appear suddenly and can last for several weeks or months before they go away. If you think your child might have shortness of breath, contact their doctor right away so they can find out what’s causing it!

When to see a doctor

If your child is having trouble breathing, call 911 right away. You may also want to speak with the doctor at your child’s next scheduled appointment if:

• Your child has been feeling short of breath for more than 24 hours or is breathing fast or heavily while sleeping or playing

• Your child’s symptoms are getting worse, for example, his coughing fits have intensified and/or he has shortness of breath after walking around outside for just a few minutes (even if he doesn’t feel tired afterward)

• You notice that something seems different about your child’s voice (like it sounds like he is yelling when he was just talking normally).

Diagnosis

• Physical examination. The physical exam may include checking the child’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. Your doctor also may check for signs of dehydration like dry mouth and skin, as well as rashes on the body (acne).

• Blood tests. A test called a complete blood count (CBC) will look at how many red blood cells there are in your child’s bloodstream and whether or not they are healthy looking. These tests can be done in a day lab or at home by taking a sample from their finger prick with a needle that has been cleaned with alcohol first; then drop off at your local hospital lab within 24 hours so they can run it through their machine!

• Radiography: This involves taking x-rays of the chest area to assess whether any air leaks are present; if so you’ll need surgery right away because this could worsen shortness breath even further if left untreated for very long periods without intervention! You should also see an echocardiogram which shows how well everything is working inside there – generally speaking bad news = lots more work ahead 🙂

Treatment

If you’re concerned about your child’s shortness of breath, it is important to consult a medical professional. Treatment will depend on the cause of your child’s shortness of breath and can include medication, oxygen therapy or other treatments. If the cause is serious (for example if they have asthma), then hospitalization may be necessary in some cases.

If you have any questions regarding this condition or would like more information about treatment options for children with shortness of breath please contact us at [phone number]

Shortness of breath can be a symptom of a serious medical condition.

Shortness of breath can be a symptom of a serious medical condition. If you have shortness of breath and it doesn’t go away after taking deep breaths, see your doctor. Shortness of breath can also be a symptom of many other conditions that require further investigation by your doctor, including:

• Asthma

• Heart disease

• Pneumonia

Conclusion

Shortness of breath can be a symptom of a serious medical condition, so it’s important to take it seriously. If you think your child may have shortness of breath, make an appointment with their doctor.