Author Question: A 4-month-old infant has a viral illness with high fever and cough. The infant's parent asks the NP ... (Read 103 times)

haleyc112 · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

A 4-month-old infant has a viral illness with high fever and cough. The infant's parent asks the NP about what to give the infant to help with symptoms. The NP should prescribe which of the following?

a. Aspirin to treat the fever
b. Acetaminophen as needed
c. Dextromethorphan for coughing
d. An antibiotic to prevent increased infection

Question 2

An NP prescribes an oral elixir medication for a child who is to take 1 tsp PO bid. When counseling the child's parents about administering this drug, the NP should tell them to:

a. shake the medication well before giving each dose.
b. mix the medication with cereal or applesauce to improve its taste.
c. administer the medication on an empty stomach to enhance absorption.
d. use a syringe purchased at the pharmacy to measure the medication accurately.

spencer.martell · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Infants should not be given aspirin, which carries a risk of Reye's syndrome, or dextromethorphan, which has an increased risk of respiratory depression in infants. An antibiotic is not indicated unless there is a known bacterial infection. Acetaminophen is safe for infants.

Answer to Question 2

D
Because the measured volume of teaspoons ranges from 2.5 to 7.8 mL, parents should obtain a calibrated medicine spoon or syringe from the pharmacy for dosing small children. Elixirs are solutions in which the drug molecules are dissolved and evenly distributed, so there is no need to shake the drug before each dose. Mixing a drug with food can be problematic if the child does not eat all of the food. An elixir does not need to be administered on an empty stomach.