A 3-year-old child has a fever associated with a viral illness. ...

[NguyenJ]

A 3-year-old child has a fever associated with a viral illness. Her mother calls the nurse, reporting a fever of 102 F even though she had acetaminophen 2 hours ago. The nurse's action should be based on which statement?
 
  a. Fevers such as this are common with viral illnesses.
  b. Seizures are common in children when antipyretics are ineffective.
  c. Fever over 102 F indicates greater severity of illness.
  d. Fever over 102 F indicates a probable bacterial infection.

Question 2

Tepid water or sponge baths are indicated for hyperthermia in children. The nurse's action is to:
 
  a. add isopropyl alcohol to the water.
  b. direct a fan on the child in the bath.
  c. stop the bath if the child begins to chill.
  d. continue the bath for 5 minutes.

[Eazy416]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Most fevers are of brief duration, with limited consequences, and are viral. Little evidence supports the use of antipyretic drugs to prevent febrile seizures. Neither the increase in temperature nor its response to antipyretics indicates the severity or etiology of infection.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Environmental measures such as sponge baths can be used to reduce temperature if tolerated by the child and if they do not induce shivering. Shivering is the body's way of maintaining the elevated set point. Compensatory shivering increases metabolic requirements above those already caused by the fever. Ice water and isopropyl alcohol are potentially dangerous solutions. Fans should not be used because of the risk of the child developing vasoconstriction, which defeats the purpose of the cooling measures. Little blood is carried to the skin surface, and the blood remains primarily in the viscera to become heated. The child is placed in a tub of tepid water for 20 to 30 minutes.