Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis: A Comprehensive Approach

QUESTION

Kierra, a 9-month-old infant, presents to the office for a well – baby visit. She is accompanied by her foster mother, Ann. Ann states that Kierra has been in her care for the past 7 months. Kierra is the first infant that Ann has cared for. According to Ann, Kierra has been healthy since her last well – child visit at 6 months of age. She has had no visits to the urgent care clinic or to the emergency room in the interim. Ann is concerned that Kierra appears thin.

Diet: Kierra’s nutrition history reveals that she drinks three 8-oz bottles of milk – based formula daily. Kierra also eats 1 jar of stage 1 baby food twice daily. She is not currently taking any multivitamins.

Elimination: Ann states that Kierra has 4-6 wet diapers daily. She does not have any diarrhea or constipation.

Sleep: Kierra sleeps 10 hours nightly and takes 2 naps daily. Ann states that Kierra does not have any problems falling asleep or staying asleep. The family does not currently have a bedtime routine for Kierra.

Birth history: Ann does not know any of the details of Kierra’s birth history or family history.

Past medical history: Kierra has been healthy since being placed in Ann’s care. Since placement, Kierra has had no injuries or illnesses requiring visits to the emergency department. Developmentally, Kierra is able to crawl. She is able to pick up small objects such as Cheerios® using only her thumb and forefinger. Kierra makes many sounds and is beginning to say “dada.”

Social history: Kierra lives at home with her foster mother Ann. Ann does not currently work outside the home. The family receives rent subsidy from Section 8, food subsidies from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and food stamps. The family also receives monthly cash assistance from the Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program. The family has no pets, and there are no smokers in the home.

Medications: Kierra is not currently taking any over the counter prescription, or herbal medications.

Allergies: No known allergies to food, medications, or the environment. She is up to date on required immunizations.

OBJECTIVE

General: Appears thin but alert, active, and playful.

Vital signs: Weight in the office today is 6.4 kg and his length is 66 centimeters. Kierra’s temperature is within the normal range at 36.8 ° C (temporal). Kierra’s weight has not changed since her last well child visit.

Skin: She appears well hydrated, and her skin was clear of lesions. There is no cyanosis of her skin, lips, or nails. There was no diaphoresis noted. Kierra has good skin turgor on examination.

HEENT: Kierra’s head is normocephalic. Her anterior fontanel is open and flat (0.5cm × 0.5cm). Red reflexes are present bilaterally; and pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light. There is no discharge noted. Pinnae are normal; the tympanic membranes were gray bilaterally with positive light reflexes. Bony landmarks are visible and there was no fluid noted behind the tympanic membrane. Both nostrils are patent. There is no nasal discharge, and there is no nasal flaring. Kierra’s mucous membranes are noted to be moist when examining her oropharynx. She has 2 teeth present — lower central incisors. There are no lesions present on the teeth or in the oral cavity.

Neck: Supple and able to move in all directions without resistance. There are no lymph nodes present in the neck area.

Respiratory: Rate is 22 breaths per minute, and her lungs are clear to auscultation in all lobes. There is good air entry, and no retractions or grunting are noted on examination. No deformities of the thoracic cage noted.

Cardiovascular: Heart rate is 110 beats per minute with a regular rhythm. There is no murmur noted upon auscultation; brachial and femoral pulses are present and 2 + bilaterally.

Abdomen: Normoactive bowel sounds are present throughout; soft and nontender. There is no evidence of hepatosplenomegaly.

Genitourinary: Genitourinary examination reveals normal female genitalia.

Neuromusculoskeletal: Good tone in all extremities. She has full range of motion in all extremities and her extremities are warm and well perfused. Capillary refill is less than 2 seconds, and his spine is straight.

 

Questions

 

Synthesize and analyze additional health history (subjective) and physical examination (objective) information you would need to formulate your diagnosis(es).

 

Perform a risk health assessment and identify the risk factors for this patient.

 

What is the most likely primary (final) diagnosis for this patient?

ANSWER

Pediatric Assessment and Diagnosis: A Comprehensive Approach

Introduction

In healthcare, particularly in pediatrics, a comprehensive assessment is essential for formulating accurate diagnoses and providing appropriate care. This essay explores the case of Kierra, a 9-month-old infant, who presented for a well-baby visit with her foster mother, Ann. The analysis will synthesize subjective health history and objective physical examination data to identify risk factors and formulate a primary diagnosis.

Additional Health History and Physical Examination

1. Family and Birth History: Gathering details about Kierra’s birth history, including prenatal and perinatal factors, would provide insights into potential risk factors for her current health status. Additionally, obtaining information about her biological family’s medical history could be valuable in assessing her genetic predispositions.

2. Developmental Milestones: While the provided information mentions Kierra’s developmental achievements, a more comprehensive assessment of her developmental milestones, including cognitive, motor, and social aspects, is necessary for a holistic evaluation.

3. Feeding Patterns: Detailed information about Kierra’s feeding patterns, including her appetite, dietary preferences, and any difficulties with feeding, should be collected to assess her nutrition more thoroughly.

4. Environmental Factors: Investigating Kierra’s living conditions, exposure to potential hazards, and the presence of supportive caregivers is crucial in understanding her overall well-being.

5. Detailed Growth History: While Kierra’s weight and length are provided, tracking her growth over time, including previous measurements, can help identify trends and potential issues.

6. Sleep Patterns: A more comprehensive assessment of Kierra’s sleep habits and routines, including bedtime rituals and sleep quality, can provide a more holistic view of her well-being.

Risk Health Assessment

Several risk factors are evident in Kierra’s case:

1. Nutritional Risk: Kierra’s foster mother, Ann, expressed concerns about her thin appearance. It’s important to assess Kierra’s nutritional intake, including the quality and quantity of her diet, to address potential nutritional deficiencies or feeding issues.

2. Limited Medical History: Lack of detailed knowledge about Kierra’s birth history, family medical history, and previous medical care can hinder a complete assessment of her health risks and potential genetic factors.

3. Social and Environmental Risk: Kierra’s placement in foster care, reliance on subsidies, and limited information about her living conditions suggest potential social and environmental risk factors that may impact her overall health and development.

Primary Diagnosis

Given the information provided and considering Kierra’s age and presentation, the most likely primary diagnosis for her appears to be “Failure to Thrive (FTT).” FTT is a clinical syndrome characterized by inadequate growth and can result from various factors, including nutritional deficiencies, inadequate calorie intake, or underlying medical conditions.

To confirm this diagnosis and identify potential underlying causes, further evaluation, including laboratory tests and consultations with pediatric specialists, may be necessary. Additionally, addressing the social and environmental factors contributing to FTT, such as the foster care situation and access to resources, is crucial for Kierra’s overall well-being and development.

Conclusion

A comprehensive pediatric assessment involves synthesizing subjective health history and objective physical examination data. In Kierra’s case, gathering additional health history, identifying risk factors, and considering the most likely primary diagnosis, such as FTT, are essential steps in providing appropriate care. Further evaluation and a holistic approach to addressing the social and environmental aspects of her life will be crucial in ensuring her well-being and development.

 

Calculate the price of your order

550 words
We'll send you the first draft for approval by September 11, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Total price:
$26
The price is based on these factors:
Academic level
Number of pages
Urgency
Basic features
  • Free title page and bibliography
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Plagiarism-free guarantee
  • Money-back guarantee
  • 24/7 Customer support
On-demand options
  • Tutor’s samples
  • Part-by-part delivery
  • Overnight delivery
  • Attractive discounts
  • Expert Proofreading
Paper format
  • 275 words per page
  • 12 pt Arial/Times New Roman
  • Double line spacing
  • Any citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard)

Unique Features

As a renowned provider of the best writing services, we have selected unique features which we offer to our customers as their guarantees that will make your user experience stress-free.

Money-Back Guarantee

Unlike other companies, our money-back guarantee ensures the safety of our customers' money. For whatever reason, the customer may request a refund; our support team assesses the ground on which the refund is requested and processes it instantly. However, our customers are lucky as they have the least chances to experience this as we are always prepared to serve you with the best.

Zero-Plagiarism Guarantee

Plagiarism is the worst academic offense that is highly punishable by all educational institutions. It's for this reason that Peachy Tutors does not condone any plagiarism. We use advanced plagiarism detection software that ensures there are no chances of similarity on your papers.

Free-Revision Policy

Sometimes your professor may be a little bit stubborn and needs some changes made on your paper, or you might need some customization done. All at your service, we will work on your revision till you are satisfied with the quality of work. All for Free!

Privacy And Confidentiality

We take our client's confidentiality as our highest priority; thus, we never share our client's information with third parties. Our company uses the standard encryption technology to store data and only uses trusted payment gateways.

High Quality Papers

Anytime you order your paper with us, be assured of the paper quality. Our tutors are highly skilled in researching and writing quality content that is relevant to the paper instructions and presented professionally. This makes us the best in the industry as our tutors can handle any type of paper despite its complexity.