Chapter 13 Wong: Health Problems of Toddlers & Preschoolers

Place in order the correct sequence for emergency treatment of poisoning in a child. Provide answer using lowercase letters separated by commas (e.g., a, b, c, d). a. Locate the poison. b. Assess the child. c. Prevent absorption of poison. d. Terminate exposure to the toxic substance.

ANS: b, d, a, c The initial step in treating poisonings is to assess the child, treat immediate life-threatening conditions, and initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if indicated. Terminating the exposure to the toxic substance is the second step. Locating the poison for identification is the third step. Preventing absorption of poison is the fourth step.

The home health nurse is planning care for a 3-year-old boy who has Down syndrome and is receiving continuous oxygen. He recently began walking around furniture. He is spoon-fed by his parents and eats some finger foods. Which is the most appropriate goal to promote normal development? a. Encourage mobility. b. Encourage assistance in self-care. c. Promote oral-motor development. d. Provide opportunities for socialization.

ANS: A A major principle for developmental support in children with complex medical issues is that it should be flexible and tailored to the individual child's abilities, interests, and needs. This child is exhibiting readiness for ambulation. It is an appropriate time to provide activities that encourage mobility, for example, longer oxygen tubing. Parents should provide decreasing amounts of assistance with self-care as he is able to develop these skills. He is receiving oral foods and is eating finger foods. He has acquired oral-motor development. Mobility is a new developmental task. Opportunities for socialization should be ongoing.

Which describes a child who is abused by the parent(s)? a. Unintentionally contributes to the abusing situation b. Belongs to a low socioeconomic population c. Is healthier than the nonabused siblings d. Abuses siblings in the same way as child is abused by the parent(s)

ANS: A Child's temperament, position in the family, additional physical needs, activity level, or degree of sensitivity to parental needs unintentionally contribute to the abusing situation. Abuse occurs among all socioeconomic levels. Children who are ill or have additional physical needs are more likely to be abused. The abused child may not abuse siblings.

Which is a common characteristic of those who sexually abuse children? a. Pressure victim into secrecy b. Are usually unemployed and unmarried c. Are unknown to victims and victims' families d. Have many victims that are each abused once only

ANS: A Sex offenders may pressure the victim into secrecy regarding the activity as a "secret between us" that other people may take away if they find out. The offender may be anyone, including family members and persons from any level of society. Sex offenders are usually trusted acquaintances of the victims and victims' families. Many victims are abused many times over a long period.

A nurse is teaching parents methods to reduce lead levels in their home. Which should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply.) a. Plant bushes around the outside of the house. b. Ensure your child eats frequent meals. c. Use hot water from the tap when boiling vegetables. d. Food can be stored in ceramic in the refrigerator. e. Ensure that your child's diet contains sufficient iron and calcium.

ANS: A, B, E Methods to reduce lead levels in homes include: planting bushes around the outside of the house if soil is contaminated with lead, so children cannot play there; ensuring that children eat regular meals because more lead is absorbed on an empty stomach; and ensuring that children's diets contain sufficient iron and calcium. Cold water should only be used for drinking, cooking, and reconstituting powder infant formula. Hot water dissolves lead more quickly than cold water and thus contains higher levels of lead. Do not use pottery or ceramic ware that was inadequately fired or is meant for decorative use for food storage or service.

A child has been admitted to the emergency department with an acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning. An antidote is being prescribed by the health care provider. Which antidote should the nurse prepare to administer? a. Naloxone (Narcan) b. N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) c. Flumazenil (Romazicon) d. Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind)

ANS: B Antidotes available to treat toxin ingestion include N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen poisoning, naloxone for opioid overdose, flumazenil (Romazicon) for benzodiazepine (diazepam [Valium], midazolam [Versed]) overdose, and digoxin immune Fab (Digibind) for digoxin toxicity.

A nurse is beginning chelation therapy on a child for lead poisoning. Which intervention should the nurse implement during the time the child is receiving chelation therapy? a. Calorie counts b. Strict intake and output c. Telemetry monitoring d. Contact isolation

ANS: B Because calcium disodium edetate (EDTA) and lead are toxic to the kidneys, a nurse should keep strict records of intake and output to monitor renal functioning. Adequate hydration is essential during therapy because the chelates are excreted via the kidneys. Calorie counts, telemetry, or contact isolation would not be nursing interventions appropriate for a child undergoing chelation therapy.

Which is a clinical manifestation of acetaminophen poisoning? a. Hyperpyrexia b. Hepatic involvement c. Severe burning pain in stomach d. Drooling and inability to clear secretions

ANS: B Hepatic involvement is the third stage of acetaminophen poisoning. Hyperpyrexia is a severe elevation in body temperature and is not related to acetaminophen poisoning. Acetaminophen does not cause burning pain in stomach or pose an airway threat.

A 3-month-old infant dies shortly after arrival to the emergency department. The infant has subdural and retinal hemorrhages but no external signs of trauma. What should the nurse suspect? a. Unintentional injury b. Shaken-baby syndrome c. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) d. Congenital neurologic problem

ANS: B Shaken-baby syndrome causes internal bleeding but may have no external signs. Unintentional injury would not cause these injuries. SIDS and congenital neurologic problems would not appear this way.

Which is the most frequent source of acute childhood lead poisoning? a. Folk remedies b. Unglazed pottery c. Lead-based paint d. Cigarette butts and ashes

ANS: C Lead-based paint in houses built before 1978 is the most frequent source of lead poisoning. Some folk remedies and unglazed pottery may contain lead, but they are not the most frequent source. Cigarette butts and ashes do not contain lead.

What is the result of acute salicylate (ASA, aspirin) poisoning? a. Chemical pneumonitis b. Hepatic damage c. Retractions and grunting d. Disorientation and loss of consciousness

ANS: D ASA poisoning causes disorientation and loss of consciousness. Chemical pneumonitis is caused by hydrocarbon ingestion. Hepatic damage is caused by acetaminophen overdose. ASA does not cause airway obstruction.

A young child has just arrived at the emergency department after ingestion of aspirin at home. The practitioner has ordered activated charcoal. The nurse administers charcoal in which way? a. Administer through a nasogastric tube because the child will not drink it because of the taste. b. Serve in a clear plastic cup so the child can see how much has been drunk. c. Give half of the solution, and then give the other half in 1 hour. d. Serve in an opaque container with a straw.

ANS: D Although the activated charcoal can be mixed with a flavorful beverage, it will be black and resemble mud. When it is served in an opaque container, the child does not have any preconceived ideas about its being distasteful. The nasogastric tube should be used only in children without a gag reflex. The ability to see the charcoal solution may affect the child's desire to drink it. The child should be encouraged to drink the solution all at once.

At what blood level is chelation therapy for lead poisoning initiated in a child? a. 10 to 14 g/dl b. 15 to 19 g/dl c. 20 to 44 g/dl d. ≥45 g/dl

ANS: D Chelation therapy is initiated if the child's blood level is greater than or equal to 45 g/dl. At 10 to 14 g/dl, the family should have lead-poisoning education and follow-up level. At 15 to 19 g/dl, the family should have lead-poisoning education and follow-up level but if it persists, initiate environmental investigation. At 20 to 44 g/dl environmental investigation and lead hazard control are necessary.

The nurse suspects that a child has ingested some type of poison. Which clinical manifestation would be most suggestive that the poison was a corrosive product? a. Tinnitus b. Disorientation c. Stupor, lethargy, coma d. Edema of lips, tongue, pharynx

ANS: D Edema of lips, tongue, and pharynx indicates a corrosive ingestion. Tinnitus is indicative of aspirin ingestion. Corrosives do not act on the central nervous system (CNS).

A young boy is found squirting lighter fluid into his mouth. His father calls the emergency department. The nurse taking the call should know that the primary danger is which result? a. Hepatic dysfunction b. Dehydration secondary to vomiting c. Esophageal stricture and shock d. Bronchitis and chemical pneumonia

ANS: D Lighter fluid is a hydrocarbon. The immediate danger is aspiration. Acetaminophen overdose, not hydrocarbons, causes hepatic dysfunction. Dehydration is not the primary danger. Esophageal stricture is a late or chronic issue of hydrocarbon ingestion.

Which is probably the most important criterion on which to base the decision to report suspected child abuse? a. Inappropriate parental concern for the degree of injury b. Absence of parents for questioning about child's injuries c. Inappropriate response of child d. Incompatibility between the history and injury observed

Answer: D Conflicting stories about the "accident" are the most indicative red flags of abuse. Inappropriate response of caregiver or child may be present, but is subjective. Parents should be questioned at some point during the investigation.