Health Variation Question Answer 2022

Running head: HEALTH VARIATION 1
Health Variation
Name
Institution

HEALTH VARIATION 2
Case Study
Question 1
Poppy has been diagnosed with acute exacerbation of asthma in the emergency department. This
condition is characterized by acute incidences of increasingly worsening shortness of breath,
wheezes, chest tightness, and coughs (Dunican & Fahy, 2015). Poppy was diagnosed with
infrequent intermittent asthma at the age of 2 years. At the time of presentation at the emergency
department, Poppy’s respiratory symptoms were worsening. She could not undertake a peak flow
or talk in full sentences. Her condition deteriorated, and she was admitted to the ICU.
Asthma can be described as a chronic disease of the lungs that causes inflammation of the
airways. The inflammation is accompanied by a narrowing of the airways, thus affecting airflow.
Research has revealed that one of the causes of inflammation in asthma is an imbalance between
Th1 and Th2 cytokines. A newborn’s immune system is skewed towards the generation of Th2
cytokines. This may lead to the excessive expression of Th2, thus causing allergic reactions (Us
Dept of Health and Human Services, 2018). Genetics also plays a crucial role in the development
of asthma. Genetics plays a vital role in the production of immunoglobulin E antibody and
airway hyper-responsiveness. The chances of a child developing asthma, therefore, increase if
they have a genetic link with someone who has a history of asthma. Environmental factors such
as viral respiratory infections and airborne allergens are also important in the development of
asthma. During a child’s development, they are susceptible to infections, thus their chances of
developing cancer increase because of the massive influence of allergens and respiratory
infections on their health (Us Dept of Health and Human Services, 2018). It is also important to
note that allergens and respiratory infections work in unison to eventually lead to asthma
development in children.

HEALTH VARIATION 3
Viral respiratory infections are the most common triggers of exacerbation of asthma in kids. The
most frequent virus that causes respiratory infections is the human rhinovirus, which peaks
mostly in September (Castillo, Peters & Busse, 2017). Other common viruses that can cause
exacerbations include respiratory syncytial virus, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, and parainfluenza
viruses. Bacterial infections have also been identified to cause exacerbation by impairing
mucociliary clearance. As a result, mucus production in the lungs is increased, which may lead to
chronic inflammation of the lower airway (Castillo et al., 2017). Additionally, the respiratory
viruses are believed to cause an impairment of anti-bacterial defenses of human alveolar
macrophages, thus increasing the incidences of bacterial infections. Pollutants such as smoke
from cigarettes also provoke exacerbations of asthma (Castillo et al., 2017). This smoke can also
lead to the development of wheezes like in Poppy’s case thus making asthma more severe.
Question 2
A high Fowler's position can be described as placing a patient in an upright position with the
upper body part being at approximately 90 degrees in relation to the lower body part. This can be
done by elevating the head of the bed as high as possible. Exacerbation of asthma, like in
Poppy’s case causes respiratory distress, thus reducing oxygenation. Poppy’s saturation of
oxygen is 87% which is abnormally low. This is an indication that the amount of oxygen in her
blood is very low. To counter this low oxygen saturation, her respiratory rate increases to
increase breathing. Her respiratory rate of 42 bpm is an indication that she is struggling with
breathing. Additionally, Poppy experiences a tracheal tug during inspiration, which is another
indication of respiratory distress. Her inspiratory and expiratory wheezes are further indications
of respiratory distress due to blocked airways. She cannot undertake a peak flow due to possibly