3rd World Congress on Pediatric Nursing and Care

Kawasaki Disease Kawasaki disease is an illness that almost always affects kids, most of them under the age of 5. It’s one of the leading causes of heart disease in children. Causes When a child has Kawasaki disease, the blood vessels throughout his body become inflamed. This can damage the coronary arteries, the vessels that carry  blood  to his heart. But Kawasaki disease doesn’t affect just the heart. It can also cause problems with lymph nodes, skin, and lining of the  mouth , nose and throat. Scientists haven’t found an exact cause for Kawasaki disease . But they think it’s probably linked to a combination of genetics, exposure to viruses and bacteria, and other environment factors, such as chemicals and irritants. Symptoms One of the most important things to know about Kawasaki disease is that it comes on fast and symptoms show up in phases. It can lead to heart trouble in as little as 10 days to 2 weeks after the symptoms start. Signs o...

Respiratory syncytial  virus (RSV), which causes infection of the lungs and breathing passages, is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children. RSV is highly contagious, and spreads through droplets containing the virus when someone coughs or sneezes. It also can live on surfaces (such as counter tops or doorknobs) and on hands and clothing, so it can easily spread when a person touches something contaminated. Those at greatest risk for severe illness from RSV include Premature infants Very young infants, especially those 6 months and younger Children younger than 2 years old with chronic lung disease Children younger than 2 years old with chronic heart disease Children with weakened immune systems Children who have neuromuscular disorders, including those who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretions  RSV season occurs each year in most regions of the U.S. during fall, winter, and spring. If you have contact with an i...

Sleep apnea is when a person stops breathing during sleep. It usually happens because something obstructs, or blocks, the upper airway. This is called obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can make the body's oxygen levels fall and interrupt sleep. This can make kids miss out on healthy, restful  sleep . Untreated obstructive sleep apnea can lead to learning, behavior, growth, and heart problems. Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea When we sleep, our muscles relax. This includes the muscles in the back of the throat that help keep the airway open. In obstructive sleep apnea, these muscles can relax too much and collapse the airway, making it hard to breathe. This is especially true if someone has enlarged tonsils or adenoids (germ-fighting tissues at the back of the nasal cavity), which can block the airway during sleep. Signs & Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea When breathing stops, oxygen levels in the body drop and carbo...

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect almost anyone. Once infected, your body retains the virus for life. Most people don't know they have CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people. CMV spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. There's no cure for the virus. However, medications can help treat newborns and people with weak immune systems. Babies Most babies with congenital CMV appear healthy at birth. A few babies with congenital CMV who appear healthy at birth can develop signs over time — sometimes not for months or years after birth. The most common of these late-occurring signs are hearing loss and developmental delay. A small number of babies may also develop vision problems. Babies with congenital CMV who are sick at birth tend to have significant signs and symptoms, including: Premature birth Low birth weight Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) Enlarged and poorly...

The human skull is made up from several bones that are connected by tough fibrous tissue called sutures. These sutures give the skull some flexibility, allowing the head to pass through the birth canal. Where several sutures meet, they create a fontanel. Fontanels make the skull flexible enough for the brain to grow. When a child is born, it will have several fontanels on the skull, but the ones on the back (posterior) and top (anterior) of its head are the most well-known. For many babies, only the larger anterior fontanel is open after birth. People refer to this fontanel as the soft spot. Sometimes, the smaller posterior fontanel is also open and may be felt at birth but soon closes. Over time, this flexibility becomes less necessary, so the fontanels close up, and sutures harden. The anterior fontanel should curve slightly inwards but remain relatively firm. It is not always visible, particularly under hair. In some cases, the dip may be very pronounced and noticeable. ...