Patient Charlie Manning presented to ED on Sunday morning after soccer game. Charlie Manning is a 6 year old female, she has been well throughout the week, mild cough last night after particularly windy evening (Note high pollen count/poor air quality index according to EPA Vic last night). Was able to play ~70% of normal soccer match before reporting to mother and coach that was feeling more short of breath and cough getting worse after strong gusts of wind. Reported to have followed Asthma Action Plan to no significant improvement, so mother brought to ED for assessment. Weight: 19kg O/E: Pale, cool skin with mildly decreased central and peripheral capillary refill. Moderate increase in work of breathing, intercostal and subcostal accessory muscle use, with abnormal posturing (hunched forward) Tolerating small amounts of food and fluids Able to speak short sentences (5-8 words) Medical History: Asthma Immunisations UTD Born 38/40 NVD nil complications Image by Alexander Fox | PlaNet Fox from Pixabay Observations Time 1115 hrs 1145 hrs 1200 hrs 1225 hrs 1245 hrs HR 155 167 152 144 135 RR 42 52 44 37 30 SpO2 88% on RA 86% on RA 93% on 2L/min 94% on 2L/min 95% on

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Here’s a step-by-step guide for structuring a paper on this pediatric asthma case:

Step 1: Read and Highlight Key Facts

Identify critical elements: age, sex, medical history (asthma), recent trigger (wind/pollen), and acute symptoms (shortness of breath, cough, accessory muscle use).
Note vital signs and oxygen saturation trends.

Step 2: Break Down the Assignment Questions

Common questions might include: contributing factors, severity assessment, interventions, differential diagnoses.
Identify which observations support a severe asthma exacerbation.

Step 3: Create an Outline

Introduction:
- Brief summary of the patient’s presentation and context.
- State the purpose: analyzing pediatric asthma exacerbation.
Patient Assessment:
- Detail history (recent triggers, adherence to asthma plan).
- Physical exam findings (work of breathing, oxygen saturation, accessory muscle use).
- Vital signs trends and interpretation.
Contributing Factors:
- Environmental (wind, pollen, poor air quality).
- Personal (pre-existing asthma, age, activity level).
Management & Interventions:
- Describe ED interventions (oxygen, nebulizer therapy, monitoring).
- Reference evidence-based guidelines (e.g., Asthma Foundation Australia).
Further Investigation:
- Possible labs or imaging if needed.
- Monitoring for improvement or complications.
Conclusion:
- Summarize the key points, including early recognition, environmental triggers, and adherence to the asthma action plan.

Step 4: Write Your Paper

Use headings for each section for clarity.
Include patient-specific details with evidence-based reasoning.
Link to reputable sources to support your points.

Step 5: Cite Reliable References

Examples:

Step 6: Review & Edit

Ensure all questions are answered.
Confirm paper flows logically and paragraphs connect.
Proofread for spelling, grammar, and formatting.
Include reference list in proper format.

Step 7: Finalize Submission

Ensure clear title, headings, and concise content.
Submit with all citations and reference list intact.

Acute Asthma Exacerbation in Children: Key Assessment Points