Question

Please answer all discussion questions and answer the case study questions.

1. Discussion Topic: Are the cognitive skills of a child affected by their nutrition?
2. Discussion Topic: What is the primary cause of fatal ingestions in children younger than 5 years of age? Discuss button battery ingestion.
3. Case Study: Sally is a 3-year-old girl in the primary care physician’s office. Sally’s mother states that she is having “temper tantrums.”

Subjective Data

Mother states Sally eats well.

Sally sleeps 11 to 12 hours a day.

Sally speaks in four- to five-word sentences.

Objective Data

Birth weight: 3 kg

Today’s weight: 13 kg

Height: 90 cm

Sally speaks in three- to four-word sentences with a 300-word vocabulary.

Questions: Please only provide short answers for the case study section. No more than 2 sentence response for the case study section. Follow the guidelines below for the discussion section.

1. Is Sally’s vocabulary appropriate for her age?
2. Are Sally’s height and weight appropriate for her age?
3. What information can Sally’s nurse give about her temper tantrums?
4. What is the goal of discipline for a preschooler?

Answer 1

Discussion topic:

1. Cognitive skills and nutrition.

Child's nutritional status can affect not only their physical health but also their mental health. Mental health consists of cognitive abilities also. Cognition refers to the process of knowing. Cognitive abilities are thinking, memory , intelligence, abstraction etc. Under nutrition affects baby's overall growth and development including brain growth and nervous system development. Under nutrition also makes the child less energetic and they show less interest in learning. Along with adequate Calories and protein, micro nutrients, such as iodine , iron , calcium, zinc, also essential for child's intellectual growth. Iodide is necessary for thyroid hormone production, that inseparably related to metabolism and nervous system development. Many studies shown that the diet and nutritional status of the child have a profound effect on brain and intellectual development.

2. Fatal ingesion in children:

Fatal ingestions are one of the main etiology for the mortality and morbidity in young children. Toddlers , usually are in high risk for ingesting medications and other toxic substances ,such as cleaning solutions, sanitizers, perfumes, cosmetics , insecticides etc.,unknowingly that may be harmful for their health and life. Statistical reports shows that fatal ingestion of cosmetics (12 %), cleaning solution ( 10%) and pain medications( 9% ) are the main causes of paediatric death due to accidental poisoning.

Button battery ingestion : A button battery is a small battery cell , looking like a button, used to power electric devises, consisting of a set of electrically connected electro chemical cells. Each year 3, 500 Button batteries are swallowed by young children. Button batteries are the most harmful type of battery for th child, if he unknowingly ingested it. Its small size make it easy to swallow and it may block throat and esophagus. After ingestion, it may cause nausea, vomiting , fever and diarrhoea also mau lead to difficulty in swallowing and breathing. The corrosive chemicals in the battery may cause internal damage and burns to the organs of the chid.

Case study session

1. Sali's vocabulary:

Sali's vocabulary is appropriate for her age as she speaks 3 to 4 word sentences with a 300 -word vocabulary . Usually a 3 year old child speaks 200 or more words and most of them use a 3 to 4 word sentences.

2. Sally 's height and weight:

Average weight and height of a 3 year old girl are 14.2 kg and 94 cm respectively. Sally's weight ( 13 kg )and height ( 90cm) are appropriate for her age as the standard weight for age for a 3 year old girl should be 12 to 16 kg and  height should be 88- 99cm.

3. Information about temper tantrum:

Temper tantrum is any fit of bad temper , or angry out bursts , especially kicking , screaming or deliberately holding breath and they are part of normal child development and get decreased once they start to attend school. Temper tantrums can be managed by staying calm without arguement and ignore it , so that child may understand that it is ineffective and unacceptable.

4. Goal of dicipline for a preschooler:

Goal of teaching discipline for a preschooler is to help the child learn self dicipline so  that we can protect the child from danger . The other goals are to develop sense of responsibility, control and a healthy conscience .