Final answer:
A nurse would expect to find a flat anterior fontanel and an absence of tears in a 3-month-old infant with severe dehydration due to gastroenteritis, although other signs, like elongated capillary refill time and significant weight loss, may also be present.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse assessing a 3-month-old infant with gastroenteritis and severe dehydration would expect certain clinical findings indicative of that condition. In the context of dehydration, the following findings correlate with the typical presentation:
- Flat anterior fontanel: The anterior fontanel, or the soft spot on the top of a baby's head, can appear sunken or flat when dehydration is present, indicating a decrease in the fluid volume inside the skull.
- Capillary refill 2 seconds: While a capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds is generally considered normal, it does not indicate severe dehydration. Therefore, in the case of severe dehydration, the refill time may be longer than 2 seconds.
- 5% weight loss: While a 5% weight loss may indicate dehydration, severe dehydration is often characterized by a more significant weight loss.
- Absence of tears: An absence of tears when crying is a common sign of dehydration in infants, as the body conserves fluid that would normally be used to produce tears.
Based on the knowledge of infant development and dehydration signs, the most expected finding in a 3-month-old infant with severe dehydration due to gastroenteritis would be a flat anterior fontanel and an absence of tears.