Introduction
The case focuses on reviewing symptoms, defining a diagnosis, and choosing treatment for a four-year-old child. Furthermore, it appears that the child’s father, Mr. Smith, wants the child to be prescribed the fastest and most effective medication treatment so that the child can return to pre-school activities the next day. Thus, Mr. Smith proposes using antibiotics as the primary option for pharmacological treatment. While the child has no symptoms indicating a serious illness, it is essential to ensure the safety of the child’s treatment. Therefore, the case requires defining a communication plan to convey the difference between viral and bacterial infections, the development of bacterial resistance, and the importance of choosing the correct treatment for Mr. Smith.
Diagnosis
The prominent symptoms present at the time of physical exam and review of systems include a mildly erythemic throat with no exudate and clear lungs. The parent explained that the child’s illnesses began with sneezing and a mild cough three days ago. However, since then, the temperature and weakness have subsided, and the child remained alert, cooperative, and in good spirits throughout the examination.
Considering that the patient’s illness began with sneezing, it is likely that the child was affected by a rhinovirus, also known as the common cold. Many different viruses can cause colds, but rhinovirus is the most common reason behind colds in children (Geppe et al., 2023). Generally, children contract colds more frequently than adults due to physiological deficiencies in their immune systems and a lack of immunity to various types of viruses that cause colds (Geppe et al., 2023). Therefore, a runny nose in young children is a crucial indicator that parents must consider when evaluating potential diagnoses and treatment measures.
Furthermore, the combination of symptoms, including a low-grade fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit) and a mildly erythematous throat with no exudate, suggests a viral nature of the illness. Thus, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and other bacterial throat infections cause swelling in the throat and lymph nodes. Considering that in some cases (3.5%), children can have asymptomatic influenza, it is possible that the patient was infected in pre-school by a child who had no visible cold symptoms (Geppe et al., 2023). Therefore, developing the parents’ knowledge of the diagnosis and the role of isolating children with common cold symptoms is essential for the treatment.
Treatment
Pharmacological
The common cold is a self-limited disease that requires no treatment. However, appropriately selected treatment for colds can provide relief for a patient’s symptoms. On average, the proportion of children missing school due to cold varies from 21.4% to 52.1% (Geppe et al., 2023). Thus, one can acknowledge the parents’ concerns about the child’s absence from pre-school. However, treatment with antibiotic medication proposed by the parent will not contribute to the patient’s fast recovery. The antibiotics’ inability to treat cold and runny nose conditions is one of the first points addressed by the CDC (2023) in the guide for parents on common colds.
As mentioned earlier, antibiotics can only be used to treat bacterial infections. In other cases, where antibiotics are misused or overused for treatment from a very young age, they contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance, increasing patient health risks. Antibiotics pose a significant issue in the modern world, with potentially severe consequences that can have significant negative impacts on the population’s health (Romandini et al., 2021). Therefore, pharmacological treatment for the patient should only include medications that will not negatively influence the child and his further development.
Decongestants are often prescribed to children with the common cold, and some decongestant medications are even available for purchase without a prescription. Decongestants provide relief for runny nose symptoms by opening the nasal passages; however, decongestants cannot directly contribute to a patient’s speedy recovery (Woo & Robinson, 2019). However, in this case, the runny nose symptom was present only at the beginning of the patient’s illness. Therefore, pharmacological treatment with the use of decongestants may not be as helpful at the moment.
Nonpharmacological
While the common cold can be cured without treatment, nonpharmacological measures can contribute to the patient’s recovery process. Moreover, nonpharmacological treatment products are easily accessible and do not require a prescription. Nonpharmacological treatment can partially relieve cold symptoms but generally focuses on improving the patient’s overall well-being. Thus, Woo & Robinson (2019) recommend using homemade saline solutions to thin the child’s nasal secretions.
The CDC’s guide for managing the common cold in children also recommends using honey to aid in cough relief (2023). A diet rich in foods high in vitamin C and zinc can also enhance a patient’s recovery process. Therefore, the inclusion of fruits, berries, and vegetables in the patient’s diet presents a reliable nonpharmacological measure that can improve the healing process and prevent further cases of cold.
Communication Plan
Choosing the right communication plan is essential for the case, as the patient’s health outcome directly depends on his parents’ understanding of the diagnosis and treatment; therefore, the communication plan should address several important points. Firstly, the plan should address parents’ concerns about illness and its impact on the child’s progress in preschool. Using the active listening principle of therapeutic communication can help parents understand that their concerns are valid and will be taken into account in the treatment. Furthermore, it is essential to inform the parent of the diagnosis and the self-limiting nature of the common cold. Next, addressing the difference between bacterial and viral infections can help parents develop a better understanding of the need to avoid the inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Lastly, the communication plan can explain how the family members can be involved in the child’s treatment to improve the recovery time. Thus, according to the CDC (2023), parents can support their child’s recovery by ensuring the child drinks enough fluids. Furthermore, providing a comfortable and calm environment for the child’s rest can improve their quality and contribute to faster recovery. Lastly, parents can organize steam baths for the child or prepare bowls with hot water to relieve cold symptoms and relax the body in preparation for further rest.
Information Resources
While most of the information required for the parent is included in the communication plan, it is essential to establish a foundation for the client’s health education by providing reliable resources for self-study. Firstly, the client can benefit from reading the CDC’s guide for parents on the use of antibiotics. The guide offers a clear and comprehensive explanation of the factors contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance in the population, emphasizing the importance of proper antibiotic use (CDC, 2023).
Furthermore, parents can familiarize themselves with the rules and measures that childcare and education programs create to protect children from the spread of infections (CDC, 2022). Acknowledging childcare employees’ efforts to protect children from infections can instill a sense of responsibility in parents and facilitate the decision to send the child to preschool only after they have made a complete recovery. Lastly, exploring the article on antimicrobial resistance from WHO (2020) will raise parents’ awareness of the severity of the problem. The article can also help correct parents’ misconceptions about antibiotics and their use.
References
CDC. (2023). Runny nose Q&A guide for parents.
CDC. (2022). Protecting your early care and education program from COVID-19 and other infections.
Geppe, N. A., Zaplatnikov, A. L., Kondyurina, E. G., Chepurnaya, M. M., & Kolosova, N. G. (2023). The common cold and influenza in children: To treat or not to treat? Microorganisms, 11(4), 1-12.
WHO. (2020). Antibiotic resistance.
Woo, T., & Robinson, M. (2019). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice nurse prescribers (5th ed). F.A. Davis Book.