What should the nurse include when teaching school-age children about nasopharyngitis?

A. Bradypnea, or a slow respiratory rate, is concerning but not typically associated with asthma exacerbations. In asthma, patients usually experience tachypnea (increased respiratory rate) as they try to compensate for difficulty breathing.
B. A decreased respiratory rate in an asthma patient can be alarming, but it may not necessarily indicate an immediate need for intervention unless it’s associated with other severe symptoms. In general, asthma patients often have an increased respiratory rate due to respiratory distress.
C. While crackles can indicate fluid in the lungs and may suggest an underlying issue, they are not the most immediate concern in a patient with asthma. Crackles can occur in various conditions, and they alone may not necessitate urgent intervention.
D. Diminished breath sounds are a critical finding in asthma patients. This may indicate severe airway obstruction or a lack of air movement due to severe bronchospasm. In the context of asthma, diminished breath sounds can signify that the patient is not able to move air effectively, which requires immediate intervention to prevent respiratory failure.

A. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition in older adults but is not a specific indicator of pneumonia. While blood pressure can fluctuate with illness, it does not directly relate to the diagnosis of pneumonia.
B. Acute confusion is a critical and relevant sign in older adults with pneumonia. This demographic may experience altered mental status due to factors like hypoxia (low oxygen levels), fever, or dehydration. Confusion is often one of the first signs of infection in older patients, making it a significant assessment finding.
C. Hematemesis, which is the vomiting of blood, is not associated with pneumonia. It typically indicates a gastrointestinal issue, such as bleeding from ulcers or varices, rather than respiratory problems. Therefore, this finding would not be relevant to a pneumonia diagnosis.
D. While a cough is indeed a symptom of pneumonia, a dry hacking cough is less typical. Pneumonia generally presents with a productive cough (producing sputum) rather than a dry cough. A dry cough might suggest conditions like bronchitis or asthma.