Author Question: Many of the physical characteristics of Down syndrome present nursing problems. Care of the child ... (Read 29 times)

tfester · **on:** Jun 28, 2018

Many of the physical characteristics of Down syndrome present nursing problems. Care of the child should include which intervention?

a. Delay feeding solid foods until the tongue thrust has stopped.
b. Modify diet as necessary to minimize the diarrhea that often occurs.
c. Provide calories appropriate to child's age.
d. Use a cool-mist vaporizer to keep mucous membranes moist.

Question 2

A child has just been diagnosed with fragile X syndrome. The nurse recognizes that fragile X syndrome is:

a. a chromosomal defect affecting females only.
b. a chromosomal defect that follows the pattern of X-linked recessive disorders.
c. the second most common genetic cause of mental retardation.
d. the most common cause of noninherited mental retardation.

Bsand8 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The constant stuffy nose forces the child to breathe by mouth, drying the mucous membranes and increasing the susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections. A cool-mist vaporizer will keep the mucous membranes moist and liquefy secretions. The child has a protruding tongue, which makes feeding difficult. The parents must persist with feeding while the child continues the physiologic response of the tongue thrust. The child is predisposed to constipation. Calories should be appropriate to the child's weight and growth needs, not age.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Fragile X syndrome is the second most common cause of mental retardation after Down syndrome. Fragile X primarily affects males, follows the inheritance pattern of X-linked dominant with reduced penetrance. This is in distinct contrast to the classic X-linked recessive pattern in which all carrier females are normal, all affected males have symptoms of the disorder, and no males are carriers.