A nurse is caring for an 8-year-old child who has acute rheumatic fever. Which of the following assessments is the nurse's priority immediately after admission?

Choice A reason: This choice is incorrect because mumps is not the common name for pertussis. Mumps is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the salivary glands, especially the parotid glands. It may cause symptoms such as fever, headache, and swelling of the cheeks or jaw. It can be prevented by vaccination with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Choice B reason: This choice is correct because whooping cough is the common name for pertussis. Pertussis is a bacterial infection that causes severe coughing spells, which may be followed by a high-pitched whoop sound or vomiting. It may cause complications such as pneumonia, seizures, or brain damage, especially in infants and young children. It can be prevented by vaccination with the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP) vaccine.

Choice C reason: This choice is incorrect because the fifth disease is not the common name for pertussis. The fifth disease is a viral infection that causes a rash on the face, trunk, and limbs, which may resemble a slapped cheek appearance. It may cause mild symptoms such as fever, runny nose, or joint pain. It usually affects children and is self-limiting.

Choice D reason: This choice is incorrect because chickenpox is not the common name for pertussis. Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes an itchy rash with fluid-filled blisters all over the body. It may cause symptoms such as fever, headache, or loss of appetite. It can be prevented by vaccination with the varicella-zoster (VZV) vaccine.

Choice A reason: This choice is incorrect because a 1-year-old toddler who has roseola and a temperature of 39° C (102.2° F) is not the most urgent case to assess. Roseola is a viral infection that causes a rash on the trunk and limbs, followed by a high fever that lasts for several days. It usually affects infants and young children and is self-limiting.
The fever can be managed by giving antipyretics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and by providing fluids and comfort measures. The fever does not indicate any serious complication or threat to life.

Choice B reason: This choice is incorrect because a 4-year-old child who has asthma and an O2 sat of 97% is not the most urgent case to assess. Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. It may be triggered by allergens, irritants, exercise, or infections. The O2 sat is a measure of oxygen saturation in the blood, which indicates how well oxygen is delivered to the tissues. A normal O2 sat range is 95% to 100%, so an O2 sat of 97% indicates that the child has adequate oxygenation and is not in respiratory distress.

Choice C reason: This choice is correct because a 10-year-old child who has sickle cell anemia and reports severe chest pain is the most urgent case to assess. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder that causes the red blood cells to become sickle-shaped and clump together, blocking the blood flow and oxygen delivery to the organs and tissues. It may cause severe pain in the chest, abdomen, joints, or bones, as well as symptoms such as pallor, jaundice, fatigue, or shortness of breath. Severe chest pain may indicate acute chest syndrome, which is a life-threatening complication of sickle cell anemia that involves infection or infarction of the lungs. It may cause fever, cough, hypoxia, or respiratory failure. Therefore, assessing and treating this child is a priority to prevent further damage and death.

Choice D reason: This choice is incorrect because a 7-year-old child who has diabetes insipidus and a urine specific gravity of 1.016 is not the most urgent case to assess. Diabetes insipidus is a rare disorder that affects the balance of fluids in the body. It causes the kidneys to produce large amounts of dilute urine, leading to polyuria, polydipsia, dehydration, or electrolyte imbalance. It may be caused by a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or a resistance to its action. The urine specific gravity is a measure of urine concentration, which indicates how well the kidneys are functioning. A normal urine specific gravity range is 1.005 to 1.030, so a urine specific gravity of 1.016 indicates that the child has normal urine concentration and is not dehydrated.