A school nurse is assessing an adolescent who reports feeling shaky and is having difficulty speaking and concentrating on the questions the nurse is asking. The nurse checks the adolescent's blood glucose level and identifies a value of 55 mg/dL. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Fluid Requirement (mL/24 hours) = Weight (kg) × Fluid Requirement (mL/kg)

Given that the child weighs 70.4 pounds, we first need to convert this weight to kilograms (1 lb = 0.453592 kg):

Weight in kg = 70.4 lb × 0.453592 kg/lb ≈ 31.89 kg

Now, let's calculate the fluid requirement using the given choices:

A) 1740:

Fluid Requirement = 31.89 kg × 55 mL/kg = 1753.95 mL

B) 134056:

This number is significantly larger than any reasonable fluid requirement and is likely an error.

C) 2:

This value is far too low to represent the fluid requirements of a child.

D) 12:

This value is also too low to represent the fluid requirements of a child.

So, the correct answer is A) 1740 mL. The child's estimated daily fluid requirement would be around 1740 mL in a 24-hour period, based on a weight of 70.4 pounds.

A. Pallor:

Pallor refers to paleness of the skin. While it can be associated with various medical conditions, it is not a typical symptom of hyperglycemia. Pallor is more commonly seen in conditions related to anemia or circulatory issues.

B. Lethargy

Explanation:

A blood glucose level of 280 mg/dL in a school-age child indicates hyperglycemia, which is an abnormally high level of glucose in the blood. Hyperglycemia commonly occurs in diabetes mellitus, specifically in Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Lethargy is a symptom associated with high blood glucose levels. It is characterized by a state of extreme tiredness, sluggishness, and reduced responsiveness. Hyperglycemia can lead to an inadequate supply of glucose to the brain cells, which can result in lethargy and confusion.

C. Shallow respirations:

Shallow respirations typically do not directly correlate with high blood glucose levels. Hyperglycemia's primary symptoms are related to changes in metabolism and glucose utilization, and it doesn't usually affect respiratory patterns in the same way that, for instance, respiratory distress might occur with conditions like ketoacidosis in diabetes.

D. Tremors:

Tremors, or uncontrollable shaking or trembling, are more commonly associated with hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) rather than hyperglycemia. Low blood glucose levels can cause the body to release adrenaline, leading to symptoms like tremors, anxiety, and sweating.