Vital Signs Measurement

Temperature:

     - Appropriate Sites for Measurement:

    - Oral: Most common and suitable for cooperative children.

    - Rectal: Most accurate but can be distressing for the child.

    - Axillary: Least invasive but slightly less accurate.

    - Tympanic: Quick and non-invasive, suitable for older children.

  - Normal Pediatric Temperature Ranges Based on Age:

    - Newborns: 97.7°F - 99.5°F (36.5°C - 37.5°C)

    - Infants: 97.7°F - 99.5°F (36.5°C - 37.5°C)

    - Toddlers/Preschoolers: 97.7°F - 99.5°F (36.5°C - 37.5°C)

    - School-Age Children: 97.7°F - 99.5°F (36.5°C - 37.5°C)

    - Adolescents: 97.0°F - 99.0°F (36.1°C - 37.2°C)

  - Recognizing Signs of Fever and Hypothermia:

    - Fever: Elevated body temperature, flushed skin, sweating, irritability.

    - Hypothermia: Low body temperature, shivering, lethargy, pallor.

Heart Rate:

  - Normal Pediatric Heart Rate Ranges Based on Age:

    - Newborns: 120 - 160 bpm

    - Infants (1-12 months): 80 - 140 bpm

    - Toddlers (1-3 years): 80 - 130 bpm

    - Preschoolers (3-6 years): 75 - 120 bpm

    - School-Age Children (6-12 years): 70 - 110 bpm

    - Adolescents (12-18 years): 60 - 100 bpm

  - Assessing Heart Rate Rhythm and Regularity:

    - Palpate pulse for strength, and regularity, note any irregularities (e.g., arrhythmias) and delays.

Respiratory Rate:

  - Normal Pediatric Respiratory Rate Ranges Based on Age:

    - Newborns: 30 - 60 breaths per minute

    - Infants (1-12 months): 24 - 38 breaths per minute

    - Toddlers (1-3 years): 22 - 34 breaths per minute

    - Preschoolers (3-6 years): 20 - 30 breaths per minute

    - School-Age Children (6-12 years): 18 - 26 breaths per minute

    - Adolescents (12-18 years): 12 - 22 breaths per minute

  - Assessing Respiratory Effort and Quality:

    - Observe chest movement, use of accessory muscles,

    - Signs of distress:

• Shortness of breath.
• Fast breathing, or taking lots of rapid, shallow breaths.
• Fast heart rate.
• Coughing produces phlegm.
• Blue fingernails or blue tone to the skin or lips.
• Extreme tiredness.
• Fever.
• Crackling sound in the lungs.

Blood Pressure:

  - Determining Appropriate Cuff Size:

    - Cuff width should cover 40% of the upper arm circumference.

  - Normal Pediatric Blood Pressure Ranges Based on Age:

  - Signs of Hypertension and Hypotension:

• Hypertension: Elevated blood pressure, headache, nosebleeds.
• Hypotension: Low blood pressure, dizziness, pallor, weakness.