Absence of the red reflex is seen in all of the following conditions EXCEPT:
Cataract
Detached retina
Conjunctivitis
Retinoblastoma
The Correct Answer is C
A. Cataract is incorrect because cataracts are opacities of the lens. When performing an ophthalmoscopic examination, light cannot pass through a dense cataract to reach the retina, which results in the absence of the red reflex. Cataracts are a common cause of an abnormal or absent red reflex in both children and adults. Detecting this early is important for preventing amblyopia in children and for identifying vision-impairing lens changes in adults.
B. Detached retina is incorrect because a retinal detachment separates the retina from its underlying structures, disrupting the normal reflection of light back through the pupil. This can produce a partial or complete absence of the red reflex. Early recognition of absent red reflex due to retinal detachment is critical because retinal detachment is a vision-threatening emergency that requires prompt referral to an ophthalmologist.
C. Conjunctivitis is correct because conjunctivitis affects only the conjunctiva, which is the thin, transparent membrane covering the sclera and lining the eyelids. It does not affect the lens or retina, so light can still reach the retina and reflect back, preserving the normal red reflex. While the eye may appear red and inflamed externally due to conjunctival blood vessel dilation, the internal structures responsible for the red reflex remain intact.
D. Retinoblastoma is incorrect because retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor of the retina. The tumor can obstruct light from reflecting normally off the retina, resulting in leukocoria, a white pupillary reflex. Absence of the red reflex in a child is a classic sign of retinoblastoma and requires immediate ophthalmology referral.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Reassurance is incorrect because reassurance involves reducing a patient’s anxiety by conveying that things will be okay or improving, such as saying, “You’ll be fine” or “Everything looks normal.” The statement in question does not provide comfort or promise an outcome.
B. Clarification is incorrect because clarification seeks to ensure understanding or resolve ambiguity by asking questions like, “Do you mean the therapy caused side effects?” The APRN’s statement is not seeking further explanation—it is responding to the patient’s emotions.
C. Validation is correct because the APRN is acknowledging and affirming the patient’s feelings. By saying, “That must have been a very trying time for you,” the APRN demonstrates empathy and recognition of the emotional impact of the patient’s experience. Validation helps build rapport, trust, and therapeutic communication, allowing patients to feel heard and understood.
D. Summarization is incorrect because summarization involves condensing the patient’s statements to highlight key points or clarify the overall message, often used at the end of a session. The statement here is empathic reflection, not a summary of events.
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C"]
Explanation
A. Beefy-red uvula is correct because streptococcal infection causes inflammation of the oropharynx, leading to erythema of the tonsils and uvula. This is a common finding in bacterial pharyngitis and supports the suspicion of strep throat.
B. White or yellow exudates on the tonsils is correct because streptococcal tonsillitis often produces purulent exudates, which appear as white or yellow patches on the tonsillar surface. This differentiates bacterial pharyngitis from viral infections, which usually cause less prominent exudate.
C. Palatal petechiae is correct because tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate are a classic sign of streptococcal pharyngitis, particularly Group A Streptococcus. These petechiae result from capillary hemorrhage due to inflammation.
D. Asymmetric protrusion of one tonsil is incorrect because asymmetry suggests peritonsillar abscess or another localized mass, not uncomplicated streptococcal tonsillitis. Classic strep infections usually produce bilateral, symmetric tonsillar enlargement.
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