Nursing Care of the Child with Integumentary Disorders

Nursing Care of the Child with Integumentary Disorders Maria Calderon, RN, PHN, MSN Ed. Nursing Care of Children 114 American Career College Objectives • Perform a nursing integumentary assessment • Discuss common pediatric integumentary disorders • Identify nursing interventions for skin disorders in pediatric patients 2 A&P Overview • The skin is the largest organ on the body and protects underlying tissues from trauma and microorganisms. • Alterations in skin integrity/disorders in children are often caused by microorganisms, hypersensitivity reactions, hormonal influences and trauma/injuries. • Childrens skin is thinner than adults and there is less subcutaneous fat, therefore kids lose heat faster than adults and are unable to regulate their temperature. • Sweat glands are not mature in small children and become active during puberty and adolescence. 3 Integumentary Assessment • Focused head to toe skin assessment • Lesions, rashes (macular, papular, pustular, vesicular) • Mucous membranes (dry, moist, cracked) • Temperature, moisture, texture, overall color/presentation of skin • Wounds (open/closed), drainage, color, smell, tunneling • Scalp assessment, hair presentation 4 Skin Infections Periorbital Cellulitis Folliculitis Herpes Zoster 5 Skin Infections 6 • Bacterial (impetigo, cellulitis, folliculitis). Often caused by Staph Aureus (MRSA) and hemolytic streptococcus, which is normal flora on the skin • Viral (herpes simplex, varicella zoster)