In: Nursing
Kevin is a 6-year-old boy who is brought in for evaluation by his parents. The parents are concerned that he has a really deep cough that he just can’t seem to get over. The history reveals that he was in his usual state of good health until approximately 1 week ago when he developed a profound cough. His parents say that it is deep and sounds like he is barking. He coughs so hard that sometimes he actually vomits. The cough is productive for mucus, but there is no blood in it. Kevin has had a low-grade temperature but nothing really high. His parents do not have a thermometer and don’t know for sure how high it got. His past medical history is negative. He has never had childhood asthma or RSV. His mother says that they moved around a lot in his first 2 years and she is not sure that his immunizations are up to date. She does not have a current vaccination record.
What is the respiratory disorder and underlying alteration and pathophysiology of the alteration associated with the type of cough described?
A respiratory disorder is a kind of problem occurs in breathing, due to lack of process of exchange of gases. The proper amount of the oxygen didn't reach to the lungs. The patients with respiratory disease may present with varied symptoms, including productive or a nonproductive cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, and decreased exercise tolerance. The incidence of respiratory alterations is difficult to quantify as the number of patients who require admission to hospital as a result of respiratory disease represent a small proportion of the total number affected.
*Pathophysiology of the alteration :
Respiratory failure occurs when the respiratory system fails to achieve one or both of its essential gas exchange functions, This failure is caused by alveolar hypoventilation, where the respiratory effort (or minute ventilation) is insufficient to allow adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This may be caused by conditions that affect respiratory drive such as neuromuscular diseases, chest wall abnormalities or severe airways disease.