An infant is brought to the emergency department with poor skin turgor, weight loss, irritability, and tachycardia. The nurse analyzes the data to suggest:

Choice A reason: This statement is correct, as breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition and hydration for infants with diarrhea, as it provides antibodies, electrolytes, and fluids. The nurse should encourage the mother to continue breastfeeding per routine, or to offer expressed breast milk if the infant is too weak or fussy to nurse.

Choice B reason: This statement is incorrect, as Imodium is not recommended for infants with diarrhea, as it can cause serious side effects, such as ileus, toxic megacolon, or central nervous system depression. The nurse should advise the parents to avoid giving any anti-diarrheal medications to the infant, unless prescribed by the doctor.

Choice C reason: This statement is incorrect, as Kaopectate is not recommended for infants with diarrhea, as it contains bismuth subsalicylate, which can cause Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition that affects the liver and brain. The nurse should advise the parents to avoid giving any anti-diarrheal medications to the infant, unless prescribed by the doctor.

Choice D reason: This statement is incorrect, as returning to daycare 24 hours after antibiotics have been started is not appropriate for infants with diarrhea secondary to rotavirus, as antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, and the infant may still be contagious and infect other children. The nurse should instruct the parents to keep the infant at home until the diarrhea has resolved, and to practice good hand hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of the infection.

Choice A reason: This statement is incorrect, as sodium excess is not likely to cause the symptoms of poor skin turgor, weight loss, irritability, and tachycardia in an infant. Sodium excess, or hypernatremia, is a condition where the blood sodium level is too high, which can result from excessive intake or loss of water. The symptoms of sodium excess may include thirst, dry mouth, confusion, seizures, or coma.

Choice B reason: This statement is incorrect, as overhydration is not likely to cause the symptoms of poor skin turgor, weight loss, irritability, and tachycardia in an infant. Overhydration, or hypervolemia, is a condition where the body has too much fluid, which can result from excessive intake or retention of water. The symptoms of overhydration may include edema, weight gain, shortness of breath, or crackles in the lungs.

Choice C reason: This statement is correct, as dehydration is the most likely cause of the symptoms of poor skin turgor, weight loss, irritability, and tachycardia in an infant. Dehydration is a condition where the body loses more fluid than it takes in, which can result from vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or inadequate intake of water. The symptoms of dehydration may include dry skin, sunken eyes, decreased urine output, or lethargy.

Choice D reason: This statement is incorrect, as calcium excess is not likely to cause the symptoms of poor skin turgor, weight loss, irritability, and tachycardia in an infant. Calcium excess, or hypercalcemia, is a condition where the blood calcium level is too high, which can result from hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, or excessive intake of vitamin D or calcium. The symptoms of calcium excess may include nausea, constipation, muscle weakness, or kidney stones.