A child with diabetes should be taught to identify the following symptoms of hypoglycemia:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Explanation

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) triggers a compensatory response from the sympathetic nervous system.
This response involves the release of epinephrine (adrenaline), leading to adrenergic symptoms.
Trembling, shaking, and tachycardia (rapid heart rate) are all classic adrenergic symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Teaching a child to recognize these early signs is crucial for prompt self-treatment and prevention of severe episodes.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Recognition of hypoglycemia symptoms in children with diabetes as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Early recognition of hypoglycemia is a critical patient safety skill for children with diabetes and their families to prevent severe neuroglycopenic events like seizures or coma.
The 'Rule of 15' is a fundamental nursing and patient education tool for managing mild to moderate hypoglycemia: give 15g of fast-acting carbs, wait 15 minutes, and recheck blood glucose.
What if the child is found unconscious? In this case, oral carbohydrates are contraindicated due to aspiration risk. The priority nursing action is to administer glucagon intramuscularly or intravenous dextrose as per protocol and call for emergency assistance.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the symptomatology of hypoglycemia in a child with diabetes.
Recall the pathophysiology of hypoglycemia. A drop in blood sugar triggers an adrenergic (sympathetic) response.
Think about the effects of adrenaline: increased heart rate, shakiness, and tremors.
Evaluate each option against this physiological knowledge.
Eliminate options containing signs that contradict the adrenergic response, such as bradycardia (slow heart rate).
Eliminate options containing signs unrelated to hypoglycemia, such as fever.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Recognition of hypoglycemia symptoms in children with diabetes.
Stem keywords: child with diabetes, hypoglycemia, symptoms
Lead-in keywords: identify
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 1136-1138

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 pp. 1025-1027, 1026-1028

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.