What should the nurse include when teaching school-age children about nasopharyngitis?

A. Rhonchi are abnormal lung sounds that result from obstruction or secretions in larger airways. They are more commonly associated with conditions like chronic bronchitis or COPD rather than tuberculosis. While TB can lead to various lung sounds, rhonchi are not a hallmark of the disease.
B. Weight gain is generally not associated with tuberculosis. In fact, TB often leads to weight loss due to factors like loss of appetite, increased metabolic demand, and systemic effects of the infection. Patients with active TB frequently present with cachexia (wasting) or weight loss, not weight gain.
C. Hemoptysis, or coughing up blood, is a significant and classic symptom associated with tuberculosis, especially in cases involving pulmonary TB. It occurs due to the erosion of blood vessels in the lungs as the disease progresses. This makes it a strong correlating finding with a diagnosis of tuberculosis.
D. Frothy sputum is more characteristic of pulmonary edema or conditions such as congestive heart failure. In tuberculosis, sputum may be mucoid or purulent and sometimes contains blood, but it is not typically described as frothy.

A. While monitoring the child’s temperature is important for assessing fever and overall condition, it does not directly prevent the transmission of streptococcal infection. This response does not address methods to prevent spreading the illness to others.
B. Giving Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help relieve pain and reduce fever, which is important for the child’s comfort. However, this response does not address disease transmission prevention. It’s more about symptom management rather than infection control.
C. Discarding the toothbrush is a key infection control measure. Since the toothbrush can harbor bacteria from the throat, it’s essential to replace it after the child has been treated for streptococcal pharyngitis to prevent re-infection and reduce the risk of spreading the bacteria to others.
D. While encouraging fluid intake is important for recovery and can help soothe a sore throat, this response does not specifically address the prevention of disease transmission. It focuses more on the child’s care rather than controlling the spread of infection.