iHuman Case titled Katherine Harris V3.1 PC.

iHuman Case titled Katherine Harris V3.1 PC. The use of antibiotics in the treatment of asthmatic conditions and unconfirmed bacterial infections The use of antibiotic in the management of bacterial respiratory infections in children is a controversial practice as many perceive it to lead to an increased risk of resistance (Hahn, 2013).

Since most of the respiratory conditions in children get better without medications, many providers are usually reluctant to administer antibiotics. The need to administer antibiotic medications increases when respiratory conditions become critical. However, before children are administered with antibiotics, it is important to comprehensively analyze their health status.

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This assessment helps care providers to ascertain if a limited or an involved application of antibiotics should be integrated into the treatment plan (Everett, 2013). The guidelines for antibiotics use in children make it clear that these medications should never be used in the treatment of unconfirmed infections (Everett, 2013). The risk of bacterial resistance to these medications increases significantly if they are frequently used in treating unconfirmed infections.

Furthermore, severe side effects may occur in children if antibiotics are used to treat viral infections.

Standards for the antibiotics used in the pediatric population Various standards have been highlighted by the American Academy of Physicians (2017) concerning the use of antibiotics in pediatrics. These standards assert that health care providers should consider the use of antibiotics following a stringent diagnostic process and a consideration of the most appropriate antibiotic as well as the benefits of antibiotics on the patient. Moreover, care providers should consider the most appropriate dosage for the shortest treatment period possible. Stephen and Souëf (2015) pointed out that in addition to using antibiotics only when a bacterial infection is confirmed and the benefits outweigh the side effects care providers should ensure that these medications are used within the shortest period possible.

The use of antibiotics should be integrated into the treatment plan for asthma if the patient presents with severe symptoms (Everett, 2013). In most cases, antibiotics are administered in cases where the standard asthma medications are not effective in the control of symptoms.

Asthma Action Plan Prevention of Asthma Symptoms Since asthma is a chronic condition that has no cure, management of this condition is mostly focused on alleviating the symptoms. Physicians are required to identify the symptoms

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presented by the patient to aid in the determination of the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Physicians mostly advise their patients to avoid exposure to factors that trigger asthmatic symptoms (Everett, 2013).

Management of Asthmatic Attacks The management of mild asthmatic attacks plays an important role in the treatment of asthma. One strategy for managing mild asthmatic attacks is increasing the number of inhaler puffs per day. Another strategy of managing mild asthmatic attacks is by increasing the preventer inhaler dose (Stephen & Souëf, 2015). If the symptoms are not relieved through preventive and mild preventive measures, the patient should seek medical attention.

Patient factor: Age and its influence on the etiology, diagnosis, and management of a child who is wheezing Wheezing is not only common but also a challenging condition encountered by pediatric care providers during practice. Care providers should, therefore, conduct a comprehensive diagnosis to find out the actual cause. Treatment should be focused on both managing the cause and alleviating the symptoms. The age of the patient largely influences the cause, diagnosis, and treatment of wheezing. Children below six years, as pointed out by the American Academy of Family Physicians (2017), are highly likely to be diagnosed with wheezing in as compared with older children. Wheezing in older children is usually an indication of an underlying health condition such as respiratory infection, allergy or asthma.

Clinical finding objectives to guide diagnosis including why and when a chest x-ray is indicated in this case A comprehension of the respiratory aspects which have been affected leading to wheezing and other asthmatic symptoms is the main objective of the clinical finding that will

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guide the diagnosis. A chest X-ray may be conducted in this case to rule out other conditions that may generate wheezes and other asthmatics symptoms due to their impact on the respiratory system (Stephen & Souëf, 2015). One of the conditions which can be ruled out is cystic fibrosis since it contributes to airway obstruction.

IHUMAN CASE: KATHERINE HARRIS V3.1PC References American Academy of Family Physicians. (2017). The diagnosis of wheezing in children. retrieved from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0415/p1109.html Everett, M. T. (2013). Selective antibiotic use in respiratory illness: a family practice guide.

Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.

Hahn, D. L. (2013). A cure for asthma? What your doctor isn't telling you--and why. Cork, Australia: BookBaby.

Stephen, O., & Souëf, P. (2015). The wheezing child: an algorithm. Common dilemmas in kids, 44(6): 360-364.

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