Question

A nurse is reinforcing instructions to the mother of an 8-year-old child who had a tonsillectomy. The mother tells the nurse that the child loves tacos and asks when the child can safely eat one. The nurse makes which response to the mother?

a) You can introduce tacos three days after surgery.
b) Wait until your child is fully recovered before giving tacos.
c) Soft foods like tacos can be introduced after one week.
d) Tacos should be avoided due to the risk of aspiration.

Answer 1

The nurse would advise the mother to wait until the child is fully recovered from a tonsillectomy before giving hard or crunchy foods like tacos to avoid irritating the throat and causing potential complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

In response to the mother's question regarding when her 8-year-old child can safely eat tacos after a tonsillectomy, the nurse would advise: b) Wait until your child is fully recovered before giving tacos. This is because tacos are not considered to be soft foods, and foods that are hard, crunchy, or spicy might irritate the throat or cause bleeding while the tonsils are healing. Traditional post-tonsillectomy diet consists of bland, soft foods and plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and reduce throat discomfort. It is important for the child to avoid rough or hard foods until they've fully healed, which can be for as long as two weeks post-surgery depending on the individual's recovery.