Case Study 1 Family



Case Study 1 Family

Brandy Schnacker

Washburn University

Advanced Pathophysiology - Family

NU 507

Sue Unruh, MSN, RN and Karen Fernengel, RN, PhD, ARNP-BC

September 09, 2010

Case Study 1 Family

1. Define physiologic jaundice. What is the pathophysiology of this condition?

Physiologic jaundice refers to jaundice in the immediate neonatal period without signs of illness (Porth & Matfin, 2009) (page 20). Jaundice is the yellowish, orange color of the babies skin and the whites of his or her eyes. The color usually results from excessive circulating levels of unconjugated, lipid-soluable bilirubin that accumulates in the skin (Porth & Matfin, 2009) (page 20). The pathophysiology of this condition is caused by the inability of the baby’s immature liver to break down red blood cells, leading to an increase in the levels of bilirubin in the baby’s blood (Weiss).

2. What are the diagnostic criteria for infant colic? What is the typical cause of breast milk and cow’s milk intolerance in the infant?

There are many different diagnostic criteria for infant colic. Some of the criteria is as follows:

Loud and continuous crying that can last from one to three hours at a time, with these crying episodes occuring about three or four days a week.

More crying in the late afternoon or evening

Baby’s face gets red

Legs are pulled up to the stomack and then may be fully stretched

Feet may be cold

Hands may be clenched

Some babies refuse to eat or become fussy soon after eating

Difficulty falling and staying asleep

Baby may lift their head or legs and pass gas

Baby may seem generally uncomfortable and appear to be in pain

(The New Parents Guide)

Colic can be defined as paroxysmal abdominal pain or cramping in an infant and usually is manifested by loud crying, drawing up of the legs to the abdomen, and extreme irritability. (Porth & Matfin, 2009) (Page 25). Colic can often be descibed by the “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours a day, form more than three days a week, and for longer than three weeks in well-fed and healthy infants. (Porth & Matfin, 2009) (page 25).

The typical cause of breast milk and cow’s milk intolerance in the infant is in the form of congenital lactase deficiency. Congenital lactase deficiency is a lack of adequate production of the enzyme lactase which is necessary to break down the milk sugar lactose (Montgomery, 2009). This can be an genetic condition that can be passed down from both parents.

3. Jasmine is afraid of her daughter failing to thrive. What does that mean? Compare the causes of “organic” and “nonorganic” failure to thrive.

Failure to thrive can be defined as an inadequate growth of the child due to the inability to obtain or use essential nutrients (Porth & Matfin, 2009) (page 26). Also another definition of failure to thrive can be a decelerated or arrested physical growth associated with poor developmental and emotional functioning (Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford).

Organic failure to thrive is caused by medical complications of premature birth or other medical illnesses that interfere with feeding and normal bonding activities between parents and infants (Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford). Also organic can be definded as the result of a physiological cause that prevents the infant from obtaining or using nutrients appropriately (Porth & Matfin, 2009) (page 26). On the other hand nonorganic failure to thrive can be caused by physhological, social, or economic problems within the family (Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford). Some of the problems could include the parents being preoccupied with other children, substance abuse, emotional problems of the parents, the lack of knowledge of proper feeding or the lack of understanding of the infant’s needs (Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford). The difference between organic and nonorganic is that organic is caused by medical complications or conditions where as nonorganic is caused by the infants family whether it be lack of knowledge or lack of finances.

REFERENCES

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2010, from Failure to

Thrive:

Montgomery, P. T. (2009, July 14). Associated Content. Retrieved Sepetember 9, 2010, from Infant

Lactose Intolerance: Congenital Lactase Deficiency and Milk Allergy:



Porth, C. M., & Matfin, G. (2009). Pathophysiology Concepts of Altered Health States. China: Lippincot

Williams & Wilkins.

The New Parents Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2010, from "Does my baby have colic?":



Weiss, L. R. (n.d.). : Pregnancy & Childbirth. Retrieved September 9, 2010, from Newborn

Jaundice:

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