All are essential requirements of nursing care of a child with severe diarrhea, except?

BHU NO - 2015

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Hard

Appeared in: BHU NO - 2015

Explanation

The primary life-threatening complications of severe diarrhea are dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and malnutrition.
Nursing care priorities are therefore focused on rehydration, nutritional support, and monitoring fluid status.
Maintaining body temperature is a component of general supportive care for any ill child but is not a specific intervention targeting the pathophysiology of diarrhea.
Fever or hypothermia may occur as complications (e.g., due to sepsis or shock) and would be managed, but they are not the central focus of routine diarrhea management.

Option A: This is incorrect because fluid and electrolyte replacement (orally or parenterally) is the highest priority intervention to treat or prevent dehydration, which is the most common cause of death in children with diarrhea.
Option B: This is incorrect because taking weight daily is the most objective and sensitive method for monitoring a child's hydration status, assessing ongoing fluid losses, and evaluating the effectiveness of rehydration therapy.
Option C: This is incorrect because continued feeding and replacing lost calories are crucial for providing energy, promoting the repair of intestinal mucosa, and preventing the vicious cycle of diarrhea and malnutrition.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Essential nursing care for a child with severe diarrhea to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
The management of pediatric diarrhea is a critical nursing skill, as dehydration can progress rapidly and lead to shock and death if not managed promptly and correctly.
Nurses must prioritize interventions based on pathophysiology. For diarrhea, the priorities are Fluid, Nutrition, and Monitoring (Weight).
What if? If the child with severe diarrhea presents with cold, clammy skin and a subnormal temperature (hypothermia), they are likely in shock. In this emergency, maintaining body temperature through active rewarming becomes a critical, high-priority intervention alongside rapid intravenous fluid resuscitation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative framing of the question by spotting the keyword 'except'. This means you are looking for the option that is NOT an essential requirement.
Analyze the core problem of 'severe diarrhea' in a child. The main physiological disturbances are fluid loss, electrolyte imbalance, and nutrient loss.
Evaluate each option against these core problems.
Option A (Fluids) directly addresses fluid loss.
Option B (Weight) directly monitors fluid status.
Option C (Calories) directly addresses nutrient loss.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Essential nursing care for a child with severe diarrhea.
Stem keywords: nursing care, child, severe diarrhea, essential requirements
Lead-in keywords: except
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: The question uses the word 'except', asking you to identify the option that is NOT an essential requirement.

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