Problem: A 2-year-old African-American girl with sickle cell disease is admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for acute streptococcal pneumonia and respiratory distress. She has had repeated hospitalizations over the past 6 months for various systemic infections. Her parents want to know what has changed over the past 6 months to cause her to be so susceptible to infection.
As the pediactric intensive care nurse, explain how you would respond.
Address the following questions:
Q1. What risk factors does the client have that increases their risk of having sickle cell anemia?
Q2. Why will pneumonia cause increased sickling?
Q3. What are the primary goals of treatment at this time?
Q4. What are the rationales behind these goals?