A child is admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. The nurse should evaluate the patient for which most likely associated symptoms?

School-age children typically have a growing awareness of their bodies and an understanding of potential harm or pain. They may fear procedures or treatments that involve physical discomfort, such as injections, blood draws, or invasive procedures. The fear of experiencing pain or bodily injury can cause anxiety and distress in school-age children.

It is important for the nurse to acknowledge and address the child's fear of pain or bodily injury by providing age-appropriate explanations, offering reassurance, and implementing strategies to minimize discomfort. This may involve using distraction techniques, providing emotional support, and ensuring proper pain management during procedures.

While loss of privacy and control, separation anxiety, and stranger anxiety can also be stressors for school-age children, the fear of pain or bodily injury is often a significant concern that may require specific attention and interventions from the nurse.

A paralytic ileus is a type of bowel obstruction characterized by the impairment or absence of normal bowel motility. It occurs due to the temporary paralysis or dysfunction of the muscles that propel food and waste material through the intestines. After surgery, paralytic ileus can occur as a result of the handling of the intestines during the procedure, the effects of anesthesia, or the body's response to inflammation and trauma.

The absence of bowel sounds is a key indicator of paralytic ileus. Normally, bowel sounds are present and indicate the movement of contents through the intestines. However, in a paralytic ileus, the bowel sounds may be diminished or absent due to the lack of peristalsis (wave-like contractions that move food along the digestive tract).