A child with a history of frequent urinary tract infections is being evaluated.
Which teaching point is essential for the nurse to include?

Choice A rationale

Gastroenteritis typically presents with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. While a sore throat can occur with some viral gastroenteritis, excessive drooling and refusal to eat are less common primary symptoms.

Choice B rationale

A viral infection causing a sore throat can lead to refusal to eat and some difficulty swallowing, potentially causing mild drooling. However, excessive drooling and the described level of distress are less typical of a simple viral sore throat.

Choice C rationale

Excessive drooling, coughing, distress, and refusal to eat in a young child are highly suggestive of foreign body ingestion causing airway obstruction or irritation of the esophagus or trachea. The body's attempt to expel the object and the difficulty swallowing saliva lead to drooling and coughing.

Choice D rationale

An allergic reaction can cause throat swelling and difficulty breathing, but excessive drooling is not a primary symptom. Hives, itching, or other systemic symptoms would also likely be present.

Choice A rationale

Allergic reactions to food items typically manifest with systemic symptoms like hives, angioedema, vomiting, or diarrhea, in addition to skin manifestations. While a rash can occur, the localized nature of the dry, scaly patches on the hands, specifically after using a new hand soap, makes a food allergy less likely as the primary cause.

Choice B rationale

Irritant contact dermatitis is a localized inflammatory reaction of the skin caused by direct contact with an irritating substance. New scented hand soaps often contain chemicals and fragrances that can disrupt the skin barrier, leading to erythema, dryness, and scaling, particularly on areas frequently exposed like the hands. The absence of vesicles or oozing supports an irritant rather than an allergic reaction.

Choice C rationale

Fungal infections of the skin, such as tinea manuum, typically present with scaling, redness, and sometimes vesicles or pustules. While a pet can be a source of fungal infections, the recent introduction of a new hand soap makes an irritant reaction a more probable cause than a fungal infection, which usually develops more gradually.

Choice D rationale

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by itchy, red, and scaly patches. While it can affect the hands, it often has a history of exacerbations and remissions and may be associated with other atopic conditions like asthma or allergies. The sudden onset after using a new product points more towards contact dermatitis rather than an eczema flare-up in a child with no significant medical history.