what is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years

ATI RN

ATI Nursing Care of Children 2019 B

1. What is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years?

A. Salmonella
B. Rotavirus
C. Norovirus
D. Shigella

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years. It leads to severe diarrhea and dehydration. Vaccination against rotavirus has significantly reduced the incidence of this disease, but it remains a major cause of morbidity in young children globally. Salmonella and Shigella can cause gastroenteritis, but they are less common in children under 5 years. Norovirus is also a common cause of gastroenteritis, but Rotavirus is the most prevalent in this age group.

2. What is a high-fiber food that the nurse should recommend for a child with chronic constipation?

A. White rice
B. Popcorn
C. Fruit juice
D. Ripe bananas

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Popcorn is a high-fiber food that can help manage chronic constipation in children. Other options like white rice and ripe bananas are low in fiber and less effective for treating constipation.

3. What is the typical presentation of pyloric stenosis in infants?

A. Bilious vomiting
B. Projectile vomiting
C. Blood in stools
D. Failure to thrive

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Projectile vomiting. Pyloric stenosis in infants typically presents with projectile vomiting, which is forceful and projective in nature. This occurs due to the obstruction at the pylorus, leading to the stomach being unable to empty properly. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Bilious vomiting is more commonly associated with intestinal obstruction, blood in stools can occur in conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis or allergic colitis, and failure to thrive is a nonspecific finding that can be seen in various pediatric conditions.

4. The caregiver asks why the 6-month-old infant needs to have solid foods when breast milk is such a good source of nutrition. What would be the best response by the nurse?

A. Solid foods, especially iron-fortified cereals, are introduced to meet the infant's increased nutritional needs, including iron, which breast milk alone may not provide adequately.
B. The extrusion reflex must be developed and feeding solid foods will help the infant to develop this reflex.
C. Breastfeeding will become painful when the infant gets more teeth, so the infant needs to eat solid foods.
D. By this age the infant becomes interested in trying new skills.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct response is A. Solid foods, especially iron-fortified cereals, are introduced to meet the infant's increased nutritional needs, including iron, which breast milk alone may not provide adequately. Choice B is incorrect because the extrusion reflex is related to the tongue-thrust reflex, not the nutritional needs of the infant. Choice C is incorrect as breastfeeding does not become painful when the infant gets more teeth, and it is not a reason for introducing solid foods. Choice D is incorrect as the infant's interest in trying new skills is not a primary reason for introducing solid foods at this age.