Pediatric HESI Related

Review Pediatric HESI related questions and content

What information should the nurse provide to parents of a 3-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who inquire about the disease and future children?

  • A. This is an inherited X-linked recessive disorder, which primarily affects male children in the family
  • B. The striated muscle groups of males can be impacted by a lack of the protein dystrophin in their mothers
  • C. The male infant had a viral infection that went unnoticed and untreated so muscle damage was incurred
  • D. Birth trauma with a breech vaginal birth causes damage to the spinal cord, thus weakening the muscles
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene on the X chromosome. This disorder primarily affects males because they have one X chromosome, inherited from their mothers, who may be carriers of the mutated gene. Females have two X chromosomes, providing a protective effect as the normal gene on one X chromosome can compensate for the mutated gene on the other. Therefore, the nurse should explain to the parents that Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited X-linked recessive disorder, which is why their son has the disease and why there is a risk of passing it on to future sons.