A child with leukemia having nausea should be offered?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Explanation

Cold fluids are better tolerated because they have less aroma compared to warm or hot fluids, and strong smells are a primary trigger for nausea.
Clear fluids, such as broth, clear juices, and gelatin, are easily digested and absorbed, which minimizes stress on the gastrointestinal tract.
This choice provides hydration and some energy without overwhelming the digestive system, making it the most appropriate initial offering for a nauseated child.

Option B: Warm fluids release more aromatic compounds, which can significantly worsen nausea and vomiting in a patient undergoing chemotherapy.
Option C: Children with leukemia have increased protein requirements for immune system function and tissue repair. A low-protein diet would be detrimental and could lead to malnutrition.
Option D: Leukemia is a hypermetabolic state, and chemotherapy further increases energy needs. A low-calorie diet would lead to weight loss, muscle wasting, and impaired healing.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional management of nausea in pediatric oncology as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) through both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, including dietary modifications.
Accurate nutritional assessment and intervention are critical to prevent cancer cachexia (severe malnutrition), which can negatively impact treatment tolerance and outcomes.
What if the child also has mucositis (mouth sores)? The nurse should still offer cool or cold items but must avoid acidic clear fluids like citrus juices. Instead, non-acidic options like apple juice, popsicles made from non-acidic fruit, or plain gelatin would be more appropriate.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: the patient is a 'child with leukemia' and the problem is 'nausea'.
Recall the pathophysiology of cancer and the side effects of its treatment (chemotherapy). Leukemia increases metabolic demands, and nausea is a very common side effect of chemo.
Evaluate the options based on these two factors: managing nausea and meeting nutritional needs.
Analyze Option A (Cold clear fluid): Cold reduces smell (a nausea trigger), and clear fluids are easy to digest. This addresses the nausea directly.
Analyze Option B (Warm clear fluid): Warmth increases smell, which would likely worsen nausea. This is incorrect.
Analyze Options C and D (Low protein/calorie): These contradict the high nutritional needs of a child with cancer. These are incorrect and potentially harmful.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional management of nausea in pediatric oncology.
Stem keywords: child, leukemia, nausea
Lead-in keywords: should be offered
Clinical cues: The patient is a child with leukemia, indicating a high-calorie, high-protein need due to the disease process and treatment.
Clinical cues: The primary symptom to manage is nausea, a common side effect of chemotherapy.

QHFybc8K4U32ymoy8LxcKo

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e pp. 404-406, 181-183

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 510-512

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

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