The school nurse has been asked to begin teaching sex education in the 5th grade. Which statement should be the foundation for the information the nurse should present?

The correct answer is choice C.

Choice C rationale:

Placing the avulsed tooth in cold milk is the most suitable medium for transporting it to the dentist. Cold milk helps preserve the viability of the tooth's cells and tissues, which is crucial for successful reimplantation. The temperature and composition of cold milk provide a suitable environment to prevent cell damage.

Choice A rationale:

Placing the tooth in a dry, clean jar is not recommended. A dry environment can cause the tooth's cells to dry out and become nonviable, making reimplantation less successful.

Choice B rationale:

Warm salt water is not the optimal choice for transporting an avulsed tooth. Warm water can cause damage to the tooth's cells, and salt water may not provide the necessary conditions to maintain the tooth's viability.

Choice D rationale:

Placing the tooth in cold water might seem logical, but it is not as effective as cold milk. Cold water lacks the protective properties and nutrients that milk provides, potentially leading to a higher risk of cell damage in the avulsed tooth.

The correct answer is Choice D: Refer children with sore throats for throat cultures.

Choice A rationale:

Recommending salicylates instead of acetaminophen for minor discomforts is not relevant to the prevention of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is primarily associated with untreated streptococcal infections, particularly streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat), which can lead to complications such as rheumatic fever if left untreated. The choice of pain relievers like salicylates or acetaminophen doesn't play a significant role in preventing rheumatic fever.

Choice B rationale:

Encouraging routine cholesterol screenings is not relevant to the prevention of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an immune-mediated inflammatory response to certain strains of Streptococcus bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pyogenes. Cholesterol screenings are more related to assessing cardiovascular risk and are not directly linked to preventing rheumatic fever.

Choice C rationale:

Conducting routine blood pressure screenings is not directly related to the prevention of rheumatic fever. Blood pressure screenings are important for identifying hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, but they do not have a direct impact on preventing rheumatic fever, which is primarily a complication of untreated streptococcal infections.

Choice D rationale:

Refer children with sore throats for throat cultures. This is the correct choice. Rheumatic fever often develops as a result of untreated streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat). Throat cultures are crucial for diagnosing streptococcal infections and determining the appropriate course of treatment with antibiotics. By identifying and treating streptococcal infections promptly, the risk of developing rheumatic fever can be significantly reduced.