A nurse is planning to teach an adolescent who is lactose intolerant about dietary guidelines.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

The correct answer is A. Antibiotics initiated 24 hr ago.

Explanation:

Children with bacterial meningitis require droplet precautions to prevent the spread of infection. These precautions can typically be discontinued after 24 hours of effective antibiotic therapy, as the risk of transmission significantly decreases.

Why the other options are incorrect:

• B. Negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture – While a negative CSF culture confirms the absence of bacteria, cultures may take several days to process. Droplet precautions are usually lifted based on treatment duration, not pending lab results.

• C. Absent nuchal rigidity – Nuchal rigidity (stiff neck) is a symptom of meningitis, but its resolution does not determine infectious risk.

• D. Temperature below 37.4°C (99.4°F) – Fever reduction is a sign of improvement but does not indicate that the infection is no longer transmissible.

The correct answer is Choice C.

Choice A rationale: A cooling blanket is typically used to manage hyperthermia in conditions like malignant hyperthermia, not routine postoperative recovery. It might cause the toddler to become too cold, leading to hypothermia or discomfort.

Choice B rationale: IV dantrolene sodium is administered for malignant hyperthermia, a rare but serious reaction to certain anesthesia medications. It is not appropriate for routine surgical recovery unless such a reaction is suspected or diagnosed.

Choice C rationale: Using an incentive spirometer encourages deep breathing, helping to prevent postoperative respiratory complications like atelectasis and pneumonia. It is an effective tool to promote lung expansion and improve oxygenation in the recovering toddler.

Choice D rationale: Administering aspirin to a toddler is not recommended due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a serious condition causing swelling in the liver and brain. Alternative pain management strategies should be utilized for pediatric patients.