Gastroenteritis in Children:
Gastroenteritis in Children: ( 15 Questions)
A nurse is conducting a nursing assessment of a child with suspected gastroenteritis.
What should the nurse include in the assessment? (Select all that apply).
The child's weight and height are essential for assessing growth and nutritional status. Changes in weight and height can indicate malnutrition or other health issues.
Documentation of stool characteristics is crucial in assessing gastrointestinal issues such as gastroenteritis. Characteristics like color, consistency, and presence of blood or mucus can provide important diagnostic information.
Assessment of skin turgor is relevant for hydration status but is not specific to gastroenteritis. While decreased skin turgor can indicate dehydration, other factors like mucous membranes and urine output are more specific indicators for gastroenteritis-related dehydration.
Monitoring the child's temperature is essential to identify fever, which is a common symptom of gastroenteritis and can indicate infection or inflammation.
Evaluating the child's overall appearance and behavior is crucial. Lethargy, irritability, or other changes in behavior can indicate dehydration or worsening illness. Additionally, observing the child's general appearance can provide valuable information about their overall health status.
Choice A rationale:
The child's weight and height are essential for assessing growth and nutritional status.
Changes in weight and height can indicate malnutrition or other health issues.
Choice B rationale:
Documentation of stool characteristics is crucial in assessing gastrointestinal issues such as gastroenteritis.
Characteristics like color, consistency, and presence of blood or mucus can provide important diagnostic information.
Choice C rationale:
Assessment of skin turgor is relevant for hydration status but is not specific to gastroenteritis.
While decreased skin turgor can indicate dehydration, other factors like mucous membranes and urine output are more specific indicators for gastroenteritis-related dehydration.
Choice D rationale:
Monitoring the child's temperature is essential to identify fever, which is a common symptom of gastroenteritis and can indicate infection or inflammation.
Choice E rationale:
Evaluating the child's overall appearance and behavior is crucial.
Lethargy, irritability, or other changes in behavior can indicate dehydration or worsening illness.
Additionally, observing the child's general appearance can provide valuable information about their overall health status.