Which action by the school nurse is important in the prevention of rheumatic fever?
Recommend salicylates instead of acetaminophen for minor discomforts.
Encourage routine cholesterol screenings.
Conduct routine blood pressure screenings.
Refer children with sore throats for throat cultures.
The Correct Answer is D
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.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is choice C. After taking antibiotics for 24 hours.
Choice A rationale:
Returning to school if no complications develop is not a sufficient guideline for allowing a child with streptococcal pharyngitis to return to school. Streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat) is highly contagious, and children should be treated with antibiotics to prevent the spread of the infection.
Choice B rationale:
Waiting until the sore throat is better is not a specific enough criterion for returning to school. While the resolution of symptoms is an important factor, it's crucial to ensure that the child has also been on antibiotics for an appropriate duration to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.
Choice C rationale:
The recommended guideline is to return to school after taking antibiotics for 24 hours. This timeframe helps ensure that the child's contagiousness is significantly reduced, minimizing the risk of transmitting the infection to classmates and school staff.
Choice D rationale:
Waiting for three days after taking antibiotics is not as precise as waiting for 24 hours. With proper antibiotic treatment, the child's contagiousness decreases rapidly, and waiting for three days might be unnecessary and could potentially result in more missed school days than needed.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct answer is choice B. Cardiac valve damage.
Choice A rationale:
Pulmonary hypertension is not a common complication of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever primarily affects the heart, joints, skin, and brain, and pulmonary hypertension is not a typical manifestation of this condition.
Choice B rationale:
Cardiac valve damage is a common and serious complication of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is caused by an autoimmune reaction to untreated streptococcal infections, particularly Streptococcus pyogenes. The immune response targets not only the streptococcal bacteria but also the body's own tissues, especially heart valves. This can lead to inflammation of the heart valves, a condition known as rheumatic heart disease. Over time, repeated bouts of rheumatic fever can result in significant damage to the heart valves, leading to valve insufficiency or stenosis. This can ultimately cause heart failure and other cardiovascular complications.
Choice C rationale:
Seizures are not a common complication of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever primarily affects the heart and other body systems, but it does not typically lead to seizures.
Choice D rationale:
Cardiac arrhythmias are possible complications of rheumatic fever, but they are not as common or significant as cardiac valve damage. The inflammation and scarring caused by rheumatic fever can disrupt the electrical pathways of the heart, potentially leading to arrhythmias. However, the more prevalent and severe consequence of rheumatic fever is the damage to the heart valves.
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