Question

The nurse is instructing nursing students on care for a newborn client diagnosed with hemophilia A. Which statement about the hemophilia trait should be included?

a. "It is an X-linked recessive trait found primarily in females."
b. "It is an X-linked dominant trait found primarily in females."
c. "It is an X-linked recessive trait found primarily in males."
d. "It is an X-linked dominant trait found primarily in males."

Answer 1

Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive trait found primarily in males. Females can be carriers and may have mild symptoms but usually only males exhibit the disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement to be included in the nurse's instructions on care for a newborn diagnosed with hemophilia A is that it is 'an X-linked recessive trait found primarily in males'. This is because hemophilia A is caused by mutations in the gene for factor VIII, which is located on the X chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, inheriting one affected X chromosome will result in the disease. Females, on the other hand, have two X chromosomes, so they would need to inherit the mutated gene on both X chromosomes to exhibit the disease. However, they can be carriers if they inherit only one mutated X chromosome and one normal X chromosome, and they may exhibit mild forms of the trait due to the inactivation of the dominant allele on one X chromosome, but this is much less common than in males.