The nurse is reinforcing home care instructions to the parent of a child with bacterial conjunctivitis. Which instruction would the nurse give the parent?

D. A high-pitched cry, often described as a "crying in pain" or "irritable cry," can be a characteristic sign of meningitis in infants. The cry may sound different from the infant's usual cry and may be associated with irritability, discomfort, or pain. It can be indicative of increased intracranial pressure and neurological irritation caused by the inflammation of the meninges.

A. Constipation is not typically associated with meningitis in infants. Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can cause symptoms such as fever, irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, and lethargy.

B. A depressed anterior fontanel (sunken soft spot on the baby's head) is not a typical manifestation of meningitis. Meningitis may cause signs of increased intracranial pressure, such as a bulging fontanel, rather than a depressed fontanel.

C. he presence of the rooting reflex is not specific to meningitis. The rooting reflex is a normal reflex present in infants, where they turn their head toward a stimulus (such as stroking the cheek or corner of the mouth) in search of nourishment (typically the breast or bottle).

1. This aligns with general guidelines for managing bacterial conjunctivitis, which emphasize the importance of cleanliness and avoiding the sharing of personal items to contain the infection.

A. Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and the child should not attend school until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours and their symptoms are improving. Allowing the child to attend school before this time could lead to the spread of the infection to other children.

B. Crusted material around the eye should be gently wiped away using a clean cotton ball soaked in warm water. It's important to start wiping from the inner aspect of the eye and move toward the outer aspect to prevent spreading any infectious material into the eye.

D. Eye medications, especially antibiotics prescribed for bacterial conjunctivitis, should not be saved for future use or shared with others. Each individual should have their own prescribed medication to avoid the risk of improper dosing or spread of infection.