Final answer:
The nurse would expect the appearance of stools in a child with celiac disease to be abnormal, often presenting as diarrhea due to malnutrition resulting from the inflammatory response in the small intestine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse would expect the appearance of stools in a child with celiac disease to be abnormal. Celiac disease is a disorder of the small intestine that results from a reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and some other grains. The inflammatory response in the small intestine leads to a reduction in the depth of the microvilli of the mucosa, hindering absorption and resulting in malnutrition. One common symptom of celiac disease is diarrhea, which can cause changes in the appearance of stools.