A humidity tent is frequently used for infants and young children to l

A humidity tent is frequently used for infants and young children to liquefy secretions and help reduce a fever. The nurse knows that humidified air puts the client at risk for:

1. Respiratory distress
2. Infection
3. Skin breakdown
4. Hypothermia

ANSWER

ANS: 4
Air in the humidity tent sometimes becomes cool and falls below 20° C (68° F), causing the child to become chilled. Children in humidity tents require frequent changes of clothing and bed linen to remain warm and dry. Humidified air helps in keeping the airway open by providing hydration to liquefy secretions, and the cool environment helps reduce bronchospasms. Humidified air liq-uefies secretions, allowing the child to cough them up, which reduces the risk for an infection. Humidified air should not lead to skin breakdown as long as the linens and clothing are not al-lowed to remain wet.