Choice A rationale:

"Encourage the patient to consume a diet high in purines." Encouraging a high-purine diet is not appropriate for a patient with gout.

High-purine foods can lead to increased uric acid levels, exacerbating gout symptoms.

The goal is to reduce purine intake.

Choice B rationale:

"Administer diuretics to help eliminate excess uric acid." While diuretics can increase uric acid levels in some cases, they are not typically administered as a primary treatment for gout.

In fact, certain diuretics can exacerbate gout symptoms by raising uric acid levels.

They are usually avoided or used cautiously in gout management.

Choice D rationale:

"Instruct the patient to avoid hydration to prevent uric acid buildup." Instructing the patient to avoid hydration is not appropriate and can be harmful.

Proper hydration is essential for gout management because it helps flush excess uric acid from the body.

Dehydration can lead to increased uric acid concentration in the blood and may worsen gout symptoms.

Questions