A nurse at a pediatric hotline receives a call from a mother who plans to administer aspirin to a toddler for a fever and wants to know the dosage. Which of the following statements by the nurse is an appropriate response?
"Give her acetaminophen, not aspirin."
"You'll have to call your physician."
"Give her no more than three baby aspirin every 4 hours."
"Follow the directions on the aspirin bottle for her age and weight."
The Correct Answer is A
A. "Give her acetaminophen, not aspirin.": Aspirin is contraindicated in children due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that affects the liver and brain, especially during viral illnesses like the flu or chickenpox. Acetaminophen is a safer alternative for fever management in children.
B. "You'll have to call your physician.": While seeking physician advice is important, the nurse has a duty to provide accurate, immediate, evidence-based guidance to prevent harm.
C. "Give her no more than three baby aspirin every 4 hours.": Recommending aspirin dosing is unsafe due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.
D. "Follow the directions on the aspirin bottle for her age and weight.": Providing this advice without addressing safety concerns is inappropriate and potentially harmful.
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Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. "Get the child tested for Reye's syndrome if the child exhibits fever, vomiting, and lethargy.": While these are symptoms of Reye's syndrome, prevention focuses on avoiding triggers like salicylates during viral illnesses, not merely recognizing symptoms.
B. "Use aspirin instead of acetaminophen for children with viral illness.": Aspirin increases the risk of Reye's syndrome in children with viral illnesses.
C. "Advise parents to have their children immunized against Reye's syndrome.": There is no vaccine for Reye's syndrome; prevention relies on avoiding salicylate use during viral infections.
D. "Avoid giving salicylate-containing medications to a child who has a viral syndrome.": Salicylates, such as aspirin, are the primary risk factor for Reye's syndrome, so avoidance is critical.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. CBC: A CBC can indicate infection (elevated white blood cell count), but it is not specific for meningitis.
B. Urinalysis: Urinalysis is not relevant for diagnosing meningitis.
C. CT scan: A CT scan can detect complications like increased intracranial pressure but does not diagnose meningitis directly.
D. Lumbar puncture: A lumbar puncture allows direct analysis of CSF for glucose, protein, white blood cells, and organisms, which is definitive for diagnosing meningitis.