Question

A nurse is administering medications to a 6-year-old child with nephrotic syndrome. To reduce proteinuria, the nurse should expect that which medication would be prescribed?

a) Antibiotics.

b) Diuretics.

c) Antipyretics.

d) Corticosteroids.

Answer 1

Corticosteroids are typically prescribed to reduce proteinuria in patients with nephrotic syndrome as they help repair the damaged glomerular filtration barrier and decrease the abnormal excretion of proteins.

Step-by-step explanation:

To reduce proteinuria in a child with nephrotic syndrome, a nurse should expect that corticosteroids would be prescribed. Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by damage to the glomeruli, leading to an abnormal loss of proteins, particularly albumin, in the urine (proteinuria), along with swelling, low serum albumin levels, and elevated cholesterol. Corticosteroids are typically used to reduce inflammation and proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome, helping to repair the glomerular filtration barrier, thus reducing the abnormal excretion of proteins. Whereas antibiotics are used to treat infections, diuretics help remove excess fluids, and antipyretics reduce fever, corticosteroids directly address the underlying inflammation causing the proteinuria associated with nephrotic syndrome.