What intervention(s) would the nurse caring for a child with infectious meningitis include? (Select all that apply.)
Observation for increasing intracranial pressure
Isolation precautions
Turn lights on to brighten the room
Preparation for lumbar puncture
Apply seizure precautions
Correct Answer : A,B,D,E
A. Observation for increasing intracranial pressure is a critical intervention in the care of a child with infectious meningitis. Meningitis can lead to inflammation of the meninges, which may result in increased pressure within the skull.
B. Isolation precautions may be necessary depending on the causative organism and mode of transmission of the infectious meningitis. Bacterial meningitis, for example, may require droplet precautions to prevent the spread of infection to others.
D. Lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap) is a diagnostic procedure often performed to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis in cases of suspected meningitis. It is an essential intervention in the diagnostic workup of infectious meningitis as it helps identify the causative organism and guide appropriate treatment.
C. Seizure precautions are important for children with infectious meningitis, as meningitis can increase the risk of seizures due to inflammation and irritation of the brain.
C. Bright lights can exacerbate symptoms such as headache and photophobia (sensitivity to light) in patients with meningitis, especially during the acute phase of illness. Therefore, it is not advisable to turn lights on to brighten the room for a child with infectious meningitis.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
B. The narrowing of the aorta results in increased resistance to blood flow beyond the constriction, leading to decreased blood pressure in the lower body, including the legs. As a result, the blood pressure in the arms may be significantly higher than in the legs, creating a notable blood pressure gradient between the upper and lower extremities.
A. Pulmonary edema is not a typical manifestation of coarctation of the aorta. Coarctation of the aorta involves a narrowing of the aortic arch, typically occurring after the branching of the vessels supplying the upper body.
C. Severe cyanosis is not typically associated with coarctation of the aorta. Cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood, is more commonly seen in conditions affecting pulmonary circulation or oxygenation of the blood, such as congenital heart defects involving right-to-left shunting of blood.
D. A machine-like murmur is not a typical finding in coarctation of the aorta. The characteristic murmur associated with coarctation of the aorta is a systolic ejection murmur heard best over the back or left axilla.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
C. This is characteristic of Kernig's sign. Kernig's sign is elicited when the thigh is flexed at the hip and then attempts to extend the leg at the knee are met with resistance or pain due to inflammation of the meninges.

A. Petechial and purpuric rashes are associated with meningococcal meningitis, not specifically with Kernig's sign. These rashes result from bleeding into the skin and are a characteristic feature of meningococcal sepsis. However, they are not directly related to Kernig's sign.
B. This observation describes Brudzinski's sign, not Kernig's sign. Brudzinski's sign occurs when passive flexion of the neck causes involuntary flexion of the hips and knees due to meningeal irritation.
D. Muscle and joint pain can be symptoms of meningitis, but they are not specific to Kernig's sign. Kernig's sign specifically refers to resistance or pain experienced when attempting to extend the leg at the knee.
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