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The nurse is advising a group of new parents on how to care for their infant at home if the baby develops mild diarrhea. Which statement indicates that teaching has been effective?

"I should offer milk after each episode of diarrhea"
"I should tak the baby's temperature and call my physician"
"I could give kaopectate as long as I follow the directions on the bottle"
"I should offer pedialyte after 1 hour and frequently thereafter to prevent dehydration"

User Kowsalya
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Final answer:

The statement that indicates effective teaching took place is the one advising to offer Pedialyte after 1 hour and frequently thereafter to prevent dehydration. Oral rehydration therapy with electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte is the best practice when dealing with mild diarrhea in infants to replenish lost fluids and maintain electrolyte balance.

Step-by-step explanation:

When it comes to handling a case of mild diarrhea in infants, proper hydration is imperative. It is highly recommended to provide the child with an oral electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte to prevent dehydration, which is a significant risk in diarrheal illnesses. Oral rehydration therapy is a critical method for replacing fluids and electrolytes lost during episodes of diarrhea and is especially important in infants due to their immature kidney function and higher susceptibility to fluid imbalances. Milk is not ideal in this situation because it can be difficult to digest during diarrhea and does not have the necessary electrolyte balance.

Medications like Kaopectate are not typically recommended for infants without direct guidance from a healthcare provider. Monitoring the baby's temperature and contacting the physician if symptoms are severe or persistent is sensible, as it can indicate the severity of the illness which may require further medical assessment.

If an infant presents with symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or dehydration, like in the case of Carli discussed in the reference materials, it's crucial to provide rehydration therapy and medical attention but not necessarily antibiotics unless a bacterial infection is confirmed. Antibiotics are not effective against the viruses that commonly cause gastroenteritis in children.

User Ledniov
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