A 7-year-old child has an altered mental status, high fever, and a generalized rash. You perform your assessment and administer supplemental oxygen. En route to the hospital, you should be MOST alert for:
- A. hypotension.
- B. combativeness.
- C. convulsions.
- D. respiratory distress.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In a 7-year-old child with altered mental status, high fever, and a generalized rash, the most critical concern is the potential for convulsions. These symptoms could indicate a serious underlying condition, such as a febrile seizure or another type of seizure activity. Monitoring for convulsions is crucial during transport to ensure prompt intervention if they occur, as seizures can lead to additional complications and require immediate management.
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A 4-year-old boy with a tracheostomy tube is experiencing respiratory distress. He has intercostal retractions, a heart rate of 80 beats/min, and an oxygen saturation of 85%. During his attempts to breathe, a gurgling sound is heard in the tracheostomy tube. You should:
- A. Ventilate through the tracheostomy tube.
- B. Place an oxygen mask over the tracheostomy tube.
- C. Remove the tracheostomy tube and clean it.
- D. Carefully suction the tracheostomy tube.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In this scenario, the 4-year-old boy with a tracheostomy tube is showing signs of respiratory distress, including intercostal retractions, a low heart rate, and decreased oxygen saturation. The gurgling sound indicates a possible airway obstruction. Correctly, the immediate action should be to carefully suction the tracheostomy tube. Suctioning can help clear any secretions or obstructions, thus improving the child's ability to breathe effectively. Ventilating through the tube, placing an oxygen mask over it, or removing and cleaning the tube would not address the potential obstruction and could worsen the respiratory distress.
A 3-year-old child has a sudden onset of respiratory distress. The mother denies any recent illnesses or fever. You should suspect:
- A. croup.
- B. foreign body airway obstruction.
- C. lower respiratory infection.
- D. epiglottitis.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a 3-year-old child with a sudden onset of respiratory distress and no recent illnesses or fever, the likely cause is a foreign body airway obstruction. Foreign body obstruction can lead to sudden respiratory distress without other preceding symptoms. It is crucial to consider this possibility and act promptly to clear the airway in such cases to prevent serious complications.
Which of the following signs or symptoms is more common in children than adults following an isolated head injury?
- A. Changes in pupillary reaction
- B. Tachycardia and diaphoresis
- C. Nausea and vomiting
- D. Altered mental status
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Which position is MOST appropriate for a mother in labor with a prolapsed umbilical cord?
- A. Supine with legs elevated
- B. Supine with hips elevated
- C. Left lateral recumbent
- D. Left side with legs elevated
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
During the 5-minute Apgar assessment of a newborn, you note a heart rate of 130 beats/min, cyanosis in the hands and feet, and rapid respirations. The baby cries when you flick the soles of its feet and resists leg straightening. These findings correspond to an Apgar score of:
- A. 9
- B. 7
- C. 8
- D. 10
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Apgar score is a rapid assessment tool to evaluate the newborn's transition to life outside the womb. The Apgar score is based on five components: heart rate (>100 bpm), respiratory effort (rapid breathing), muscle tone (resisting leg straightening), reflex irritability (crying when feet are flicked), and color (cyanosis to extremities). The described findings match a score of 9, indicating good overall condition and adaptation to extrauterine life.