A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a parent and his school-age child who has juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Choice A: Tachycardia is not a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, but rather a sign of shock, dehydration, or pain. Tachycardia is a fast heart rate, which is more than 160 beats per minute in infants. Tachycardia can occur when the body tries to compensate for low blood pressure, fluid loss, or tissue damage.

Choice B: Increased sleeping is a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, as it reflects altered level of consciousness, which is one of the earliest and most sensitive signs of increased intracranial pressure. Increased intracranial pressure can compress the brain tissue and affect its function and responsiveness. Increased sleeping can progress to lethargy, stupor, or coma.

Choice C: Brisk pupillary reaction to light is not a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, but rather a normal and expected response. A brisk pupillary reaction to light means that the pupils constrict quickly when exposed to bright light and dilate quickly when exposed to dim light. Brisk pupillary reaction to light indicates intact cranial nerve II (optic) and III (oculomotor).

Choice D: Depressed fontanels are not a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, but rather a sign of dehydration or malnutrition. Depressed fontanels are sunken or flat areas on the top or back of an infant's head where the skull bones have not yet fused together. Depressed fontanels can occur when there is insufficient fluid or tissue volume in the body.

Choice A: This statement is correct, as a fracture of an epiphyseal plate, which is a cartilage layer at the end of a long bone where growth occurs, can impair the normal growth and development of the bone. Depending on the type and severity of the fracture, the epiphyseal plate may close prematurely, stop growing, or grow unevenly, resulting in deformity, shortening, or angular deviation of the affected limb.

Choice B: This statement is incorrect, as a fracture of an epiphyseal plate does not necessarily disrupt the blood supply to the bone unless there is also damage to the periosteum, which is a membrane that covers and nourishes

the bone. A disruption of the blood supply to the bone can cause avascular necrosis, which is a condition that causes bone death due to lack of oxygen and nutrients.

Choice C: This statement is incorrect, as a fracture of an epiphyseal plate does not cause bone marrow loss through the fracture unless there is damage to the medullary cavity, which is a hollow space within the bone that contains bone marrow. Bone marrow loss through the fracture can cause bleeding, infection, or anemia.

Choice D: This statement is incorrect, as a fracture of an epiphyseal plate does not take longer to heal in younger children than in older children. In fact, younger children tend to heal faster than older children due to their higher metabolic rate, greater blood supply, and more active growth factors. The healing time of a fracture depends on various factors, such as the type and location of the fracture, the treatment method, and the presence of complications.