Final answer:
A nurse collecting data from a toddler with GERD should expect to find chronic cough as a common symptom. This symptom is due to the aspiration of stomach contents into the airways. Abdominal distension, constipation, and decreased bowel sounds are not commonly associated with GERD.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject question pertains to the expected clinical findings in a toddler who has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Among the options provided, chronic cough is a common symptom associated with GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux can lead to the aspiration of stomach contents into the airways, resulting in a cough. However, the other symptoms listed such as abdominal distension, constipation, and decreased bowel sounds, are not as commonly associated with GERD in toddlers.
GERD in children can present with a variety of symptoms, but they often include regurgitation, vomiting, coughing, and respiratory problems. With regard to the other clinical findings mentioned, abdominal distension could be a sign of various other gastrointestinal issues, constipation is commonly related to dietary factors or decreased peristalsis, and decreased bowel sounds might indicate a gastrointestinal obstruction or other conditions that would not typically be associated with GERD.