An 18-month-old child has been diagnosed with pediculosis capitis ...

[silviawilliams41]

An 18-month-old child has been diagnosed with pediculosis capitis (head lice). Which prescription should the nurse question if ordered for the child?
 
  a. Malathion (Ovide)
  b. Permethrin 1 (Nix)
  c. Benzyl alcohol 5 lotion
  d. Pyrethrin with piperonyl butoxide (RID)

Question 2

What is an important consideration in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
 
  a. Learning disabilities are apparent at an early age.
  b. The child will always be distracted by external stimuli.
  c. Parental observations of the child's behavior are most relevant.
  d. It must be determined whether the child's behavior is age appropriate or problematic.

[sierrahalpin]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The nurse should question malathion for an 18-month-old child. Malathion contains flammable alcohol, must remain in contact with the scalp for 8 to 12 hours, and is not recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. The drug of choice for infants and children is permethrin 1 cream rinse (Nix) or pyrethrin with piperonyl butoxide, which kill adult lice and nits. Benzyl alcohol 5 lotion has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of head lice in children as young as 6 months.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The diagnosis of ADHD is complex. A multidisciplinary evaluation should be done to determine whether the child's behavior is appropriate for the developmental age or whether it is problematic. Learning disabilities are usually not evident until the child enters school. Each child with ADHD responds differently to stimuli. Some children are distracted by internal stimuli and others by external stimuli. Parents can only provide one viewpoint of the child's behavior. Many observers should be asked to provide input with structured tools to facilitate the diagnosis.