A 2-month-old patient has a history of phimosis What statement by the father indicates a need for further teaching?

Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis is tight or difficult to retract over the glans (head of the penis). It is normal for infants and young boys to have a non-retractable foreskin, and it usually resolves naturally as they grow. Pulling back the foreskin forcefully or attempting to clean under it in an infant can cause injury, pain, and even infection.

The correct approach is to gently clean the external genitalia with mild soap and water, but the foreskin should not be forcibly retracted in an infant. The foreskin will gradually become more retractable on its own as the child grows.

The other statements are generally appropriate:

A. "This is a normal finding as my son is uncircumcised": Phimosis is more common in uncircumcised males, and it is often a normal developmental variation in infants.

B. "This means that there is a narrowing of his torch that could lead to an infection": This statement recognizes the possibility of complications related to phimosis, such as the risk of infection, which is accurate.

D. "If this continues to be an issue, we may have him circumcised": Circumcision may be considered in cases where phimosis persists and causes problems, but it is usually not recommended during infancy unless medically necessary. This statement acknowledges a potential treatment option.

When obtaining the history of a child with suspected rheumatic fever, the nurse should consider the following information to be most significant:

B. A recent episode of pharyngitis.

Explanation:

Rheumatic fever often follows an untreated or inadequately treated streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat) infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. Therefore, a recent episode of pharyngitis is a key piece of information in the context of rheumatic fever. It is important to assess whether the child had a sore throat, fever, and other symptoms of streptococcal infection that may have triggered the development of rheumatic fever.

While the other symptoms (vomiting, lack of interest in food, fever) may be important for the overall assessment and management of the child, they are not as directly associated with the development of rheumatic fever as a recent episode of pharyngitis caused by Group A Streptococcus. Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune response to untreated streptococcal infection, and its diagnosis is often linked to the presence of preceding streptococcal pharyngitis.