The child with dyspnea in the emergency department: Epidemiological data for the intervention of rehabilitation nurses

Abstract

Introduction: Respiratory deseases are one of the most frequent reasons for admission and readmission to the Pediatric Emergency Department. This study aims to characterize children who come to the emergency department with dyspnea and reflect on the need for intervention by rehabilitation nurses.

Methodology: A quantitative and retrospective study. The data collection was carried out through the analysis of the “Dyspnea” and “Dyspnea in children” flowcharts existing in the Triagem de Manchester program, in a pediatric emergency service, from 2018 to 2020, with 8974 children being screened.

Results: The class with the highest number of admissions corresponded to young children (1-2 years old). The most frequent priority was “Little Urgent”. The breathing difficulty, hypoxemia, cough and pleuritic pain were the most verbalized signs and symptoms what is requiring the adoption of strategies to avoid and/or minimize them.

Discussion: The role of the rehabilitation nurse is essential for the training of parents, in order to reduce admission to the emergency department, increase knowledge about possible respiratory pathology, minimize symptoms and enable children with respiratory system compromise to disease self-management.

Conclusion: The dyspnea in children is a health problem with a high number of admissions, and the rehabilitation nurse can play an active and prominent role in the care partnership, promoting the effective parental role and the child's autonomy, while ensuring the quality of nursing care.