Chapter 4

Cough or difficult breathingCase I

Case study: FaizulloFaizullo is a 3-year old boy presented in the hospital with a 3 day history of cough and cold. 24 hours before coming he became tired and began to breathe rapidly, and complained of left-sided chest pain.

What are the stages in the management of Faizullo?

Stages in the management of a sick child (Ref. Chart 1, p. xxii)

1. Triage

2. Emergency treatment

3. History and examination

4. Laboratory investigations, if required

5. Main diagnosis and other diagnoses

6. Treatment

7. Supportive care

8. Monitoring

9. Discharge planning

10. Follow-up

Have you noticed any emergency (danger) or priority (important) signs?

Temperature: 39.5 0C, pulse: 120/min, RR: 60/min with moderate chest indrawing, warm hands and

feet, tired but looking around

Triage

Emergency signs (Ref. p. 2, 6)

• Obstructed breathing• Severe respiratory distress• Central cyanosis• Signs of shock• Coma• Convulsions• Severe dehydration

Priority signs (Ref. p. 6)• Tiny baby• Temperature• Trauma• Pallor• Poisoning• Pain (severe)• Respiratory distress• Restless, irritable,

lethargic• Referral• Malnutrition• Oedema of both feet• Burns

History

Faizullo was a previously well 3-year old boy who presented with a 3 day history of upper respiratory tract symptoms. 24 hours before coming to hospital he became tired and began to cough and breathe rapidly, and complained of left-sided chest pain. He was still able to drink but only took about one third of his normal intake.

Faizullo had fast breathing and moderate chest indrawing. He had no signs of cyanosis.

Vital signs: temperature: 39.5 0C, pulse: 120/min, RR: 60/minSpO2: 92% on room airWeight: 15 kgMouth: dry mucus membranes, red pharynx, no cyanosisEars: reddened tympanic membranesChest: some nasal flaring; dullness to percussion and decreased breath sounds over left lower chest at the backCardiovascular: two heart sounds were heard with no added soundsNeurology: tired but alert; no neck stiffness

Examination

• List possible causes of the illness

• Main diagnosis

• Secondary diagnoses

• Use references to confirm (Ref. p. 77-79)

Differential diagnoses

Differential diagnoses (continued)

• Pneumonia• Malaria• Severe anaemia• Cardiac failure• Congenital heart disease• Tuberculosis• Pertussis• Foreign body• Effusion/empyema• Pneumothorax• Pneumocystis pneumonia (Ref. p. 77-

79)

Additional questions on history

• Cough

- duration in days

- paroxysms with whoops or vomiting or central cyanosis

• Exposure to someone with tuberculosis

• History of choking or sudden onset of symptoms

• Known HIV infection

• Personal or family history of asthma

(Ref. p. 76-77)

Further examination based on differential diagnoses

Look for

• General:

- grunting, wheeze, stridor, head nodding, raised jugular venous pressure, severe palmar pallor

• Chest:

- apex beat displaced/trachea shifted from midline, auscultation: coarse crackles or bronchial breath sounds, gallop rhythm of heart; percussion signs of effusion

• Abdomen:

- abdominal masses, enlarged liver and spleen

(Ref. p. 76-77)

What investigations would you like to do to make your diagnosis ?

Investigations • Pulse oximetry (SpO2 : 92%)

• Chest x-ray:

(Ref. p. 77)

Diagnosis

Summary of findings:• Examination: chest indrawing, nasal flaring, decreased breath sounds left

-fast breathing:-for age 1-5 years ≥40/min (Ref. p. 80)

• Chest x-ray shows left lower lobe opacity• SpO2 : 92% on room air

Severe Pneumonia (Ref. p. 80)

How would you treat Faizullo?

Treatment

(Ref. p. 82)

• Benzylpenicillin 50,000 units/kg IM or IV 6 hourly for at least 3 days

• When he improves, switch to oral amoxicillin (25mg/kg 2 times a day). The total course of treatment is 5 days.

What supportive care and monitoring are required?

Supportive Care

• Paracetamol (pain)

• Remove by gentle suction any thick secretions in the throat, which the child cannot clear spontaneously

• Ensure that the child receives daily maintenance fluids appropriate for the child's age

• Give fluids preferably by mouth and encourage the child to eat as soon as food can be taken

•If wheeze is present, give rapid-acting bronchodilator

(Ref. p. 83)

Monitoring

• The child should be checked by nurses frequently (at least every 3 hours) and by doctors at least twice a day Observations of:

Respiratory rate

Pulse

Temperature

Oxygen saturation if pulse oximeter is available

• Use a Monitoring chart (Ref. p. 320, 413)

• Daily medical check

• Assess fluid intake, daily weight

• Within two days there should be improvement (if not look for complications or other diagnoses) (Ref. p. 83)

Follow-up

•After 2 days Faizullo's fever had resolved and he was walking around and eating well. He was discharged on day 3 with oral amoxicillin and an appointment for review in the further 5 days.

•His mother was told to return sooner if Faizullo's breathing became worse or other symptoms developed.

Summary

• Faizullo is a 3 year old boy who presented with a typical history of pneumonia.

• He responded well to intravenous antibiotics and oxygen therapy.

• He only required 3 days in hospital, but needed to be followed-up 5 days after discharge to ensure he had completed his oral antibiotics and had remained well.