A nurse is admitting a child who has leukemia. Which of the following clients should the nurse place in the same room with this child?
A.
A child who has nephrotic syndrome
B.
A child recovering from a ruptured appendix
C.
A child who has rheumatic fever
D.
A child who has cystic fibrosis
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is C. A child who has rheumatic fever.
When admitting a child with leukemia, it is crucial to consider their compromised immune system due to the condition and its treatment. Leukemia often results in a weakened immune response, making the child highly susceptible to infections. Therefore, it’s important to place them in a room with another patient who has a similar risk profile to avoid exposing them to additional pathogens.
Let’s analyze the options:
- A. A child who has nephrotic syndrome: Nephrotic syndrome involves significant protein loss through the kidneys and can lead to immunosuppression and increased risk of infections. While not as severe as leukemia, nephrotic syndrome still presents a risk, and it is generally advisable to avoid placing a child with leukemia in the same room as one with nephrotic syndrome due to the risk of cross-infection.
- B. A child recovering from a ruptured appendix: A child recovering from surgery, such as an appendectomy, may still have a risk of infection and would typically be in a postoperative state that could be less controlled, increasing the risk of exposure to pathogens. This could be detrimental to a child with leukemia.
- C. A child who has rheumatic fever: Rheumatic fever is a complication of streptococcal infections and primarily affects the heart and joints. It does not involve immunosuppression or increased infection risk to the same extent as the other conditions. Therefore, it is generally safer to room a child with rheumatic fever with a child with leukemia compared to the other conditions listed.
- D. A child who has cystic fibrosis: Cystic fibrosis involves chronic lung infections and an increased risk of respiratory pathogens. Placing a child with leukemia in the same room as a child with cystic fibrosis would increase the risk of respiratory infections, which is particularly dangerous given the leukemia patient’s weakened immune system.
Therefore, a child with rheumatic fever, who has a lower risk of infectious complications compared to the other conditions, would be the most suitable roommate for a child with leukemia.