Author Question: The mother of a 2-year-old is concerned because her son has had three ear infections in the past ... (Read 188 times)

gbarreiro · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The mother of a 2-year-old is concerned because her son has had three ear infections in the past year. What would be an appropriate response by the nurse?

a. It is unusual for a small child to have frequent ear infections unless something else is wrong.
b. We need to check the immune system of your son to determine why he is having so many ear infections.
c. Ear infections are not uncommon in infants and toddlers because they tend to have more cerumen in the external ear.
d. Your son's eustachian tube is shorter and wider than yours because of his age, which allows for infections to develop more easily.

Question 2

A patient in her first trimester of pregnancy is diagnosed with rubella. Which of these statements is correct regarding the significance of this in relation to the infant's hearing?

a. Rubella may affect the mother's hearing but not the infant's.
b. Rubella can damage the infant's organ of Corti, which will impair hearing.
c. Rubella is only dangerous to the infant in the second trimester of pregnancy.
d. Rubella can impair the development of CN VIII and thus affect hearing.

moormoney · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The infant's eustachian tube is relatively shorter and wider than the adult's eustachian tube, and its position is more horizontal; consequently, pathogens from the nasopharynx can more easily migrate through to the middle ear. The other responses are not appropriate.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
If maternal rubella infection occurs during the first trimester, then it can damage the organ of Corti and impair hearing.