Which action by the school nurse is important in the prevention of rheumatic fever?

The correct answers are choices A, B, and D.

Choice A rationale:

Decreased urinary output can be a sign of heart failure, especially in infants. In heart failure, the heart's ability to pump effectively can lead to decreased blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in decreased urine production.

Choice B rationale:

Sweating (inappropriate) is a symptom of heart failure in infants. Infants with heart failure might sweat excessively, especially while feeding or crying, due to the effort required by the heart to pump blood effectively.

Choice C rationale:

Warm flushed extremities are not typically associated with heart failure in infants. In heart failure, extremities might actually become cool and pale due to poor circulation.

Choice D rationale:

Anorexia, or a lack of appetite, is a common sign in infants with heart failure. The increased effort required for feeding due to compromised cardiac function can lead to poor feeding and decreased appetite.

Choice E rationale:

Weight loss can occur in infants with heart failure due to inadequate caloric intake, difficulty with feeding, and increased metabolic demands associated with heart failure. However, it's not as specific a sign as decreased urinary output, sweating, and anorexia.

The correct answer is Choice C: Measure abdominal girth.

Choice A rationale:

Taking vital signs, including blood pressure, is important in assessing the overall health status of a child, but it might not provide specific information about a probable intussusception. Blood pressure is not typically affected in a way that directly relates to intussusception.

Choice B rationale:

Auscultating for bowel sounds is an important assessment technique in various gastrointestinal conditions, but it may not be the most appropriate immediate action when dealing with a probable intussusception. While bowel sounds might be diminished or absent in intussusception, the priority should be on assessing other signs and symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

Measuring abdominal girth is an essential nursing action when a child with a probable intussusception has a normal, brown stool. Intussusception is the telescoping of one segment of the intestine into another, often leading to bowel obstruction. Abdominal distension or girth measurement can provide valuable information about the progression of the condition and potential obstruction.

Choice D rationale:

Notifying the practitioner is an important step, but it might not be the most immediate action required. Assessing and monitoring the child's condition should be the initial response to gather more information before notifying the practitioner.