A nurse is caring for a 3-day-old newborn and suspects Hirschsprung disease. What finding best supports the nurse's concern?
The infant has passed several tar-like stools.
The infant has not gained weight and has stooled once.
The infant has not stooled.
The infant has passed hard, pellet-like stools.
The Correct Answer is C
Rationale:
A. Passing tar-like stools is normal for newborns within the first few days of life and does not indicate Hirschsprung disease.
B. Limited stooling and poor weight gain may suggest feeding issues but are not as indicative of Hirschsprung disease as the absence of stool.
C. The absence of stool (failure to pass meconium within 24-48 hours) is a classic sign of Hirschsprung disease, a condition where the absence of ganglion cells in the intestines leads to a blockage.
D. Passing hard, pellet-like stools may indicate constipation but is not specific to Hirschsprung disease, especially in a newborn.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. A capillary refill greater than 3 seconds suggests ongoing dehydration and poor perfusion, indicating that oral rehydration has not been fully effective.
B. A respiratory rate of 24/min is within normal limits for a 4-year-old but is not a direct indicator of hydration status.
C. A urine specific gravity of 1.015 is within the normal range, indicating adequate hydration and that oral rehydration therapy has been effective.
D. A heart rate of 130 bpm, while potentially normal for a 4-year-old, does not specifically indicate the effectiveness of rehydration therapy.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Profound cyanosis is a key sign of tricuspid atresia, a congenital heart defect where the tricuspid valve is absent, leading to poor oxygenation of the blood.
B. Periorbital edema is not typically associated with tricuspid atresia; it might be seen in other conditions like nephrotic syndrome.
C. Absent femoral pulses suggest coarctation of the aorta rather than tricuspid atresia.
D. Decreased blood pressure in the lower extremities is also more indicative of coarctation of the aorta, not tricuspid atresia.