The nurse caring for a toddler who is diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism. Which of the following developmental delays should the nurse recognize as the priority concern if the condition is left untreated?
Delayed cognitive abilities
Delayed social interactions
Delayed language development
Delayed motor skills
The Correct Answer is A
A. Delayed cognitive abilities. Cognitive impairment is the most serious consequence of untreated congenital hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones are critical for brain development, especially in infancy and early childhood. Severe intellectual disability can result if treatment is delayed, making early diagnosis and levothyroxine therapy essential.
B. Delayed social interactions. While social development may be indirectly affected by hypothyroidism due to lethargy, poor responsiveness, or developmental delays, it is not as critical as cognitive delays, which can lead to permanent intellectual disability.
C. Delayed language development. Language delays are common in hypothyroidism but often stem from underlying cognitive impairment. Early treatment with thyroid hormone replacement can improve language development over time.
D. Delayed motor skills. Hypothyroidism can cause hypotonia (low muscle tone), leading to motor skill delays. However, motor delays are less concerning than irreversible cognitive impairment, which has the most significant long-term impact on the child's quality of life.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. "You must breastfeed to give the baby the best nutrients." While breastfeeding provides essential nutrients, it is not recommended for mothers with HIV due to the risk of viral transmission through breast milk, even if the mother is on antiretroviral therapy.
B. "Breastfeeding is not recommended because of the high risk of transmission." HIV can be transmitted through breast milk, and health organizations, including the WHO and CDC, advise against breastfeeding if safe alternatives, such as formula feeding, are available. Formula feeding is the preferred method in high-resource settings.
C. "Pumped breastmilk may be given to your child." Pumping does not eliminate HIV from breast milk. The virus remains present, posing the same transmission risk as direct breastfeeding.
D. "You should sterilize your pumped breastmilk prior to feeding." There is no reliable method for sterilizing breast milk at home that effectively eliminates HIV without destroying its nutritional value. Instead, formula feeding or donor milk from screened sources is recommended.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Aspirin. Aspirin should never be given to a child with chickenpox due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause liver and brain damage when aspirin is used during viral infections.
B. Corticosteroid cream. While corticosteroids reduce inflammation, they are not recommended for chickenpox because they can suppress the immune response and potentially worsen the infection.
C. Oral antihistamine. Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine help relieve severe itching, which is a common symptom of chickenpox. Reducing itchiness can also help prevent scratching that may lead to skin infections and scarring.
D. Oral antibiotics. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, so antibiotics are not needed unless a secondary bacterial infection (such as impetigo) develops from scratching the lesions.
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