NURSING TOOL BOX SERIES

1 . THE FLOW OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid found within the ventricles (cavities) of the brain, central canal of spinal cord and beneath the cranial and spinal meninges in the subarachnoid space. It protects and nourishes the brain and spinal. The meninges (dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater) are the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid is located in the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. The primary function of the meninges is to protect the central nervous system. The whole process begins when cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) is produced by the choroid plexus in the lateral ventricles. Cerebrospinal fluid will flow through an opening called the foramen of monro to enter the third ventricle. From the third ventricle, the cerebral spinal fluid continues to flow downward into the fourth ventricle passing through a passageway called cerebral aqueduct/aqueduct of silvius. In the fo

  MENINGITIS IN CHILDREN Meningitis is the condition of the central nervous system in which there is inflammation of the meninges (outer layer covering the brain and spinal cord), caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, characterized by fever, neck stiffness, fit and altered level of consciousness. Normally, the brain and spinal cord are covered by the meninges. The meninges are arranged in three layers, thus: dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. The layer that touches the brain tissue is called the pia mater. The following and middle layer is called the arachnoid mater. The outermost and toughest layer is called the dura mater. The space between the skull bones and the dura mater is called the epidural space. The space between the dura mater and arachnoid mater is called subdural space. The space between the arachnoid mater and pia mater is called subarachnoid space. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulate around the brain and spinal cord via this space.

  RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS) Respiratory distress syndrome previously called hyaline membrane disease is a syndrome in premature infants caused by developmental insufficiency of lung surfactant production and structural immaturity in the lungs. It can cause affected babies to need extra oxygen to help them breathing. Respiratory distress syndrome, is a common breathing or respiratory condition that affects newborn's lungs/alveoli, basically caused by pulmonary surfactant deficiency in the lungs of the neonate, most commonly in those born at less than 37 weeks of gestation, characterized by grunting sounds with breathing, chest retractions, dyspnea and cyanosis. Pulmonary surfactant is a mixture of phospholipids and lipoproteins secreted by type II pneumocytes. Before birth, the fetal lungs/alveoli are filled with fluid since it doesn't breath inside the uterus. At birth, lung surfactant diminishes the surface tension of water film that lines the alveoli to collap

  RHEUMATIC FEVER Rheumatism is used to describe inflammation of the joints, muscles and fibrous tissue. So rheumatic fever is a type of inflammatory disease that can damage the heart tissue and can lead to rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic fever is an acute condition occurring as a rare complication of untreated throat infection caused by Group A Beta Haemolytic Streptococcus affecting the child's joints, heart, skin, and brain characterized by high fever, polyarthritis, carditis, subcutaneous nodules, erythema marginatum, and Sydenham’s chorea. The peak incidence occurs between 5-15 years, but affects even the very young beginning from the age of three. First attacks are rare after adolescence. The risk factors may include: age of 5-15 years, gender as it occur in both sexes but slightly more in females, insufficient nutrition, and untreated throat infection. The pathogenesis mechanism of acute rheumatic fever are not completely understood, but in order for rheumatic fev

  POLIOMYELITIS Poliomyelitis also called infantile paralysis is an acute, highly infectious viral disease of the central nervous system caused by the poliovirus, which mainly affects young children's lower motor neurons of the spinal cord bringing about paralysis, and it is characterized by fever, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. The incubation period is 7-14 days but it may extend to 25 days. Poliomyelitis is more likely to spread where there is poor sanitation and environmental hygiene as it's mode of transmission is primarily fecal oral route. Poliomyelitis is caused by the poliovirus. There are 3 main types of polio virus thus: A, Type I B.   Type II C. Type III Type I poliovirus is the commonest, followed by type III and type II is the list common. The risk factors of poliomyelitis are; 1. Under 5 aged children 2. Immune deficiency 3. Malnutrition 4. Tonsillectomy 4. Lack of immunization against polio then exposure to poliovirus 5. Bee

  BRONCHITIS Bronchitis is an acute and or chronic condition of the lower respiratory tract, in which there is inflammation of the air passages called bronchi that bring air into the lungs from the trachea, usually caused by an upper respiratory tract infection, characterized by cough, wheezing and dyspnea. Bronchitis can either be: 1. Acute, this is when bronchitis is mild and brief in duration usually taking less than 2 weeks. 2. Chronic, which is recurrent bronchitis, has a prolonged course and is often a sign of a serious underlying disease. The predisposing factors of bronchitis may include: 1. Upper respiratory tract infection, caused by viruses because this depress the ciliary mechanism thereby leading to the infection spread to the bronchi. 2. Aging, this causes degeneration of cells including those of the immune system thereby impairing it. 3. Immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids and chemotherapy. 4. Smoking, because it disrupt both mucociliary and ma

    BRONCHITIS Bronchitis is an acute and or chronic condition of the lower respiratory tract, in which there is inflammation of the air passages called bronchi that bring air into the lungs from the trachea, usually caused by an upper respiratory tract infection, characterized by cough, wheezing and dyspnea. Bronchitis can either be: 1. Acute, this is when bronchitis is mild and brief in duration usually taking less than 2 weeks. 2. Chronic, which is recurrent bronchitis, has a prolonged course and is often a sign of a serious underlying disease. The predisposing factors of bronchitis may include: 1. Upper respiratory tract infection, caused by viruses because this depress the ciliary mechanism thereby leading to the infection spread to the bronchi. 2. Aging, this causes degeneration of cells including those of the immune system thereby impairing it. 3. Immunosuppressive drugs like corticosteroids and chemotherapy. 4. Smoking, because it disrupt both mucociliary an