Pediatric Immunity
A nurse is caring for a 12-year-old girl with a severe peanut allergy. The girl's parents are upset because the school does not permit her to carry her EpiPen with her. It must remain in the school's office per school regulations. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate? A) "She is allowed by law to carry her EpiPen with her; I will talk to school authorities." B) "Let's file an action plan and keep it in the school office in the event of anaphylaxis." C) "Make sure she wears a medical alert bracelet so that school staff know she has allergies." D) "I will be happy to train school authorities and staff to recognize anaphylaxis."
ANS A Public Law No. 108-377, the Asthmatic Schoolchildren's Treatment and Health Management Act of 2004, was passed by the U.S. Congress. This law is intended to ensure that students with severe allergies can carry prescribed medications such as an EpiPen with them at all times. The nurse must contact the school and inform them of this law so that the girl is allowed to carry her EpiPen on her person at all times. The school staff should be trained to recognize anaphylaxis, there should be an action plan on file, and the girl should wear a medical alert bracelet as well. However, the most important action is to notify school authorities of the law.
The nurse is caring for a child undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV infection. The nurse is preparing to administer the prescribed medication. In addition to the nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and the nonnucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), the nurse is cognizant that the child will be taking which additional medication as part of the three-drug regimen? A) Protease inhibitors B) Corticosteroids C) Cytotoxic drugs D) Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
ANS A The nurse understands that the child will be taking protease inhibitors as part of the three-drug regimen for HAART. Corticosteroids, cytotoxic agents, and DMARDs are typically used for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
When reviewing the history of a child with suspected primary immunodeficiency, what would the nurse be least likely to find? A) Weight appropriate for height B) Antibiotic therapy for the past 3 months without effect C) Ten episodes of otitis media in the last year D) Three bouts of sinusitis within a year's time
ANS A Weight appropriate for height would not be associated with primary immunodeficiency. Rather, failure to thrive is considered a warning sign. Other warning signs of primary immunodeficiency include four or more episodes of acute otitis media in 1 year; two or more episodes of severe sinusitis in 1 year; treatment with antibiotics for 2 months or longer with little effect; two or more episodes of pneumonia in 1 year; recurrent deep skin or organ abscesses; persistent oral thrush or skin candidiasis after age 1 year; history of infections that do not clear with antibiotics; two or more serious infections; and a family history of primary immunodeficiency.
What would the nurse expect to find in a male infant with Wiskott--Aldrich syndrome? A) Eczema B) Thrombocytosis C) Lymphadenopathy D) Pneumonia
ANS A Wiskott--Aldrich syndrome is manifested by eczema that usually worsens with time, petechiae, bloody diarrhea, or a bleeding episode in the first 6 months of life. Thrombocytopenia is present. Lymphadenopathy is associated with hypogammaglobulinemia. Pneumonia is associated with severe combined immune deficiency.
When teaching a group of new parents about newborn care and development, which immunoglobulin would the nurse explain as being primarily responsible for the passive immunity exhibited by newborns? A) IgA B) IgG C) IgM D) IgE
ANS B IgG is acquired transplacentally, providing the newborn with passive immunity to antigens to which the mother had developed antibodies. IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgM do not cross the placenta and require an antigenic challenge for production.
The nurse is providing a class for a group of childcare providers. When discussing allergic reactions, which statement by a participant indicates the need for further instruction? A) "Most allergic reactions will happen within a few minutes of eating a problematic food." B) "If a child has previously eaten a food and not had a reaction they are not 'truly' allergic to it." C) "Allergic reactions can happen hours after eating something." D) "In addition to hives some children may also have vomiting and diarrhea when having an allergic reaction to a food."
ANS B Previous exposure with no incident does not mean an individual cannot develop a hypersensitivity to a food or other substance. An allergy may develop at any time. The remaining statements are correct.
The nurse is talking to the parents of a child who has been diagnosed with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). Which statement by the parents best indicates that they understand their child's condition? A) "He'll need to receive intravenous immunoglobulin routinely." B) "We'll need to prepare him and ourselves for a bone marrow transplant." C) "He'll need to receive several different types of antiviral medications." D) "We'll make sure that he has his EpiPen with him at all times."
ANS B SCID is a potentially fatal disorder requiring emergency intervention at the time of diagnosis. Gene therapy provides some promise for the future treatment of SCID, but until then bone marrow or stem cell transplantation is necessary. IVIG may be used to help decrease the number of infections until bone marrow or stem cell transplantation can be done. Antiviral medications are used to treat HIV infection. An EpiPen is used for anaphylaxis.
The nurse is caring for a child who is taking corticosteroids for systemic lupus erythematosus. The nurse closely monitors the child based on the understanding that corticosteroids exert which major action? A) They increase liver enzymes. B) They can mask signs of infection. C) They cause bone marrow suppression. D) They decrease renal function.
ANS B The nurse understands that corticosteroids may mask signs of infection. Cytotoxic drugs cause bone marrow suppression. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can increase liver enzymes and decrease renal function.
The school nurse is walking through the lunchroom when one of the children says she started to feel strange after trading lunches with a friend. Which assessment would be most important? A) Asking if she has a rash anywhere B) Checking if she has any nausea C) Determining if her throat itches D) Asking if she has abdominal pain
ANS C Asking if the child's throat itches is most important because this aids in determining airway patency, which is always the priority. Asking about a rash, nausea, or abdominal pain can be done after the nurse is certain the child's airway is not jeopardized.
After teaching a class about humoral and cellular immunity, the nurse recognizes that additional teaching is needed when the class states that: A) humoral immunity crosses the placenta. B) cellular immunity involves the T lymphocytes. C) cellular immunity recognizes antigens. D) humoral immunity does not destroy the foreign cell.
ANS C Humoral immunity recognizes antigens and cellular immunity does not. Humoral immunity crosses the placenta in the form of IgG. Cellular immunity involves the action of T lymphocytes, and humoral immunity does not destroy the foreign cell.
A 16-year-old client has just been diagnosed with HIV. Which statement by the parent indicates understanding of the diagnosis? A) "It is important for our child to get started on drug therapy for a better chance of a cure of the infection." B) "I must be infected with HIV and passed it to our child while in the uterus for the infection to have occurred." C) "We don't want to face the fact that it is likely our child contracted HIV through sexual contact or IV drug use." D) "Infections as a result of being HIV positive are a low risk since the diagnosis came early."
ANS C In teenagers, HIV is primarily contracted through sexual intercourse with an infected person or sharing of needles with an infected person during IV drug use. There is no cure for HIV, infants primarily contract the virus from their mothers, and infections as a result of having HIV are not dependent on when the diagnosis occurred.
Which exercise would the nurse suggest as most helpful to maintain mobility in a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? A) Jogging every other day B) Using a treadmill C) Swimming D) Playing basketball
ANS C Swimming is a particularly useful exercise to maintain joint mobility without placing pressure on the joints. Jogging, using a treadmill, and playing basketball would place pressure on the joints of the lower extremities.
The nurse is caring for a child who has undergone stem cell transplantation for severe combined immune deficiency. What finding would the nurse interpret as indicative of graft-versus-host disease? A) Presence of wheezing B) Splenomegaly C) Maculopapular rash D) Chronic or recurrent diarrhea
ANS C The nurse should monitor the stem cell transplant child closely for a maculopapular rash that usually starts on the palms and soles for indication that graft-versus-host disease is developing. Wheezing and recurrent diarrhea are not typical clinical manifestations of graft-versus-host disease. Splenomegaly is associated with hypogammaglobulinemia.
The nurse is caring for a child who is having an anaphylactic reaction with bronchospasm. The nurse would expect to administer what medication for bronchospasm as ordered? A) Epinephrine B) Corticosteroid C) Albuterol D) Diphenhydramine
ANS C The nurse would expect to administer bronchodilator inhalation treatment (albuterol) if bronchospasm is present. Epinephrine, diphenhydramine, and/or corticosteroids are administered to reverse the allergic process.
The nurse is assessing a child with pauciarticular-type juvenile idiopathic arthritis. What would the nurse expect to assess? A) Fever B) Rash C) Eye inflammation D) Splenomegaly
ANS C With pauciarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, eye inflammation may be noted. Fever, rash, and enlarged spleen would be noted with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
A group of nursing students are reviewing information about humoral and cellular immunity. The students demonstrate an understanding of this material when they identify what as being involved in cellular immunity? A) B cells B) Antibodies C) Antigens D) T cells
ANS D Cellular immunity involves T cells, which do not recognize antigens. B cells, antibodies, and antigens are involved in humoral immunity.
The nurse is caring for a newborn whose mother is HIV positive. The nurse would expect to administer a 6-week course of which medication? A) Lopinavir B) Ritonavir C) Nevirapine D) Zidovudine
ANS D Children born to HIV-positive mothers should receive a 6-week course of zidovudine therapy. Lopinavir, ritonavir, and nevirapine are medications used for treatment of HIV-1 infections as part of a three-drug regimen.
A child is diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and is receiving several different medications listed in the medication administration record. Which agent would the nurse identify as being used to prevent disease progression? A) Aspirin B) Prednisone C) Ibuprofen D) Methotrexate
ANS D Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, are necessary to prevent disease progression. Other agents, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are helpful with pain relief. Prednisone helps for the relief of inflammation.
The mother of a 5-year-old child with allergies to a variety of foods including eggs, milk, peanuts and shellfish, asks if her child will "always have these problems." What response by the nurse is most accurate? A) "Sadly, allergies to foods will persist." B) "Most children with allergies will outgrow them." C) "We cannot be sure at this point but most children who are allergic to peanuts will not have this allergy in adulthood." D) "In most cases allergies to peanuts and shellfish persist into adulthood but the others may diminish and disappear."
ANS D Foods such as peanuts, milk, soy, shellfish, and tree nuts are common allergens. By adulthood many allergies will diminish or disappear. Allergies to shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts often persist into adulthood.
While providing care to a 5-month-old girl whose family has a history of food allergies, the nurse instructs the parents about foods to be avoided in the first year of life. Which response by the parents indicates a need for further teaching? A) "She cannot have any cow's milk." B) "I should continue breastfeeding until at least 6 months." C) "Peanuts in any form should be avoided." D) "Any kind of fruit is acceptable."
ANS D The nurse should caution the parents that kiwifruit should be avoided. Other foods to avoid include cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, fish, and shellfish. Breastfeeding also is recommended for at least the first 6 months.
A nurse is assessing a child who may have a latex allergy. The nurse asks the child about allergic reactions to certain foods. Which foods if identified by the child as experiencing an allergic reaction would help support the suspected latex allergy? Select all that apply. A) Peaches B) Plums C) Carrots D) Tomatoes E) Milk F) Lettuce
Ans: A, B, C, D Foods with a known cross-sensitivity to latex include pear, peach, passion fruit, plum, pineapple, kiwi, fig, grape, cherry, melon, nectarine, papaya, apple, apricot, banana, chestnut, carrot, celery, avocado, tomato, or potato. Milk and lettuce are not associated with a cross-sensitivity.
A nursing student is reviewing information about primary immunodeficiencies. The student demonstrates understanding of the material by identifying which immunodeficiencies as affecting only males? Select all that apply. A) X-linked agammaglobulinemia B) Wiskott--Aldrich syndrome C) Selective IgA deficiency D) X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome E) IgG subclass deficiency F) Severe combined immune deficiency
Ans: A, B, D X-linked agammaglobulinemia, Wiskott--Aldrich syndrome, and X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome affect males only. Selective IgA deficiency, IgG subclass deficiency, and severe combined immune deficiency affect boys and girls.
A child is diagnosed with a food allergy to milk. When teaching the parents about this allergy, what would the nurse suggest as possible substitutions for milk? Select all that apply. A) Fruit juice B) Rice milk C) Yogurt D) Nondairy creamers E) Soy milk
Ans: A, B, E Milk can be replaced with water, fruit juice, rice milk, or soy milk. Yogurt contains milk and some nondairy products such as creamers may contain milk and should be avoided.
