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 B
Explanation
A. Depressed anterior fontanel: A depressed fontanel is typically associated with dehydration, not meningitis.
B. High-pitched cry: A high-pitched cry is a classic symptom of meningitis in infants, often associated with increased ICP.
C. Constipation: Meningitis is more likely to cause irritability and feeding difficulties than constipation.
D. Presence of the rooting reflex: The rooting reflex is normal in a 4-month-old and does not specifically indicate meningitis.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Insomnia: Infants with increased ICP are more likely to be lethargic than to have insomnia.
B. Positive Babinski reflex: A positive Babinski reflex is normal in infants under 2 years and does not indicate ICP.
C. Bulging fontanel: A bulging fontanel is a classic sign of increased ICP due to the accumulation of fluid or swelling inside the skull.
D. Low-pitched cry: Infants with ICP typically have a high-pitched cry, not a low-pitched one.