Why should parents be taught not to give bismuth subsalicylate ...

[Alygatorr01285]

Why should parents be taught not to give bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) to a child?
 
  a. It contains aspirin that can cause Reye's syndrome.
  b. It changes stool color making the identification of GI bleeding more difficult.
  c. It has such powerful antidiarrheal effects that toxic megacolon can occur.
  d. It produces a paradoxical reaction in children that results in worsening of the symptoms.

Question 2

A patient has been prescribed all four first-line drugs for tuberculosis (TB). Which laboratory blood value is most important for the nurse to report to the prescriber first?
 
  a. Red blood cells (RBCs) 2.2 million/mm3
  b. International normalized ratio 1.6
  c. White blood cells 6000/mm3
  d. Sodium 134 mEq/L

[alvinum]

Answer to Question 1

A
Children should not be given bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) because it contains aspirin and can cause Reye's syndrome, a life-threatening condition that affects the liver and central nervous system.

Answer to Question 2

A
All of these values are abnormal; however, only the RBC count is seriously out of the normal range. One of the most serious adverse effects of rifampin (a major part of first-line drug therapy for TB) is suppression of RBC production, leading to anemia. This patient's RBC level is only about half of normal.

[Alygatorr01285]

TYSM

[FergA]

Excellent