Which observation indicates that the caregiver of an infant with congestive heart failure (CHF) is carefully following the prescribed medical regimen?
A) The child is given antibiotics daily.
B) The child exhibits normal weight for age.
C) The child has an elevated red blood cell count.
D) The child's pulse rate is less than 50 beats/min.
Answer (2)
The best observation indicating that a caregiver is following the prescribed medical regimen for an infant with congestive heart failure is that the child exhibits normal weight for age. This shows proper management and care. Other options either indicate potential issues or are not directly relevant to managing CHF.
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When assessing the observation that indicates a caregiver of an infant with congestive heart failure (CHF) is following the prescribed medical regimen, let's analyze the options provided:
A) The child is given antibiotics daily.
Congestive heart failure is not typically treated with daily antibiotics unless there is a specific infection that is concurrently being treated. Therefore, this is not a direct indication of management for CHF.
B) The child exhibits normal weight for age.
This option is relevant because infants with CHF may struggle with weight gain due to difficulty feeding and increased metabolic demand. If the child is maintaining a normal weight for their age, it suggests that the caregiver is effectively helping to manage the condition, likely through proper nutrition and management of fluid status.
C) The child has an elevated red blood cell count.
An elevated red blood cell count is not an expected result of managing CHF and could indicate complications such as chronic hypoxia or other conditions. Thus, it does not indicate successful management of CHF.
D) The child's pulse rate is less than 50 beats/min.
A pulse rate of less than 50 beats/min is abnormally low for an infant and could indicate an adverse effect of medication or heart dysfunction. This is not a sign of effectively managing CHF.
Out of these options, B) The child exhibits normal weight for age is the best indicator that the caregiver is successfully following the prescribed medical regimen for an infant with CHF. Maintaining a normal weight suggests that the condition is being managed well, allowing for normal growth and development.
