Planning Nutrition Therapy for a Complex Pediatric Patient
Pressure ulcers are also termed as bed sores, pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers. Pressure ulcers are localized damage to the skin or the underlying tissue over a body part with a bone caused by pressure or pressure with friction. Some parts are prone to sores include skin covering the sacrum, coccyx, and heels. The occurrence of pressures sores is due to the exertion of force on a soft tissue causing an obstruction in the flow of blood to the tissue. Shear can pull on blood vessels supplying blood to the skin; this causes pressure ulcers. The problem is prevalent in individuals who are not moving about; they are confined to one place. (Thomas, 2015).
Cindy is at the risk of suffering pressure ulcers. She is a six-year-old patient who has had a gastronomy feeding tube since she was months old. Cindy is bed-ridden, this increases the probability of her getting pressure sores on her back and other sensitive parts. She is under the care of her parents alongside her three siblings. She is involved in as many family activities as possible. The absence of someone with professional skills in health care at her home increases the chances of her getting bed sores. A State-funded in-home care provides the actual health care. The system quality dropped after the State awarded a different company the contract to provide the services to the people. The decrease in efficiency of the health care system equally translates to the increase in the probability of suffering some health problems. Protein-calorie malnutrition leads to a reduction in the tolerance of the skin for pressure and shear. (Thomas, 2015). Her quarterly check-up shows that she was low on albumin and she had lost body weight. The information indicates that she had protein-calorie malnutrition making her prone to pressure ulcers.
Egg allergy occurs when the body immune system becomes sensitive to the protein content in either egg yolks or whites. (Nelms, & Sucher, 2015). The presence of the egg proteins stimulates the body to have an allergic reaction. Reactions range from a mild rash to a life-threatening situation due to breathing impairment and can result in body shock. Eggs are among the foods that cause allergic reactions. There are various symptoms of egg allergy which show a short time after eating eggs. Skin reactions for instance rashes, swelling, hives or eczema. The allergic reaction can cause wheezing and difficulty in breathing. Stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting are common symptoms of egg allergy. Having a running nose, sneezing or having watery eyes are indicators of an egg reaction. Anaphylaxis is a symptom that is less common but can occur. (Nevin-Folino, Ogata, Charney, Holt, Brewer, Sharrett, & Carney, 2015). Cindy uses a gastronomy feeding tube; she receives a specific enteral formula that did not have eggs as a source of protein in her diet. The risk of an allergy reaction is reduced to zero. However, findings, after she was admitted to the …
