Final answer:
In the context of hemophilia, joint stiffness is recognized as an early sign of hemarthrosis, where bleeding occurs into a joint, causing inflammation and discomfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
When collecting data on a 5-year-old child with hemophilia, the nurse identifies joint stiffness as an early sign of hemarthrosis.
Hemophilia is a genetic disorder characterized by a lack of clotting factors, which leads to a tendency for prolonged bleeding. Early signs of bleeding into the joints, known as hemarthrosis, can include symptoms such as swelling, warmth, bruising, and pain in the affected joints. Of the given options, joint stiffness is synonymous with this early inflammatory stage and is, therefore, the correct answer.
While options such as nausea and vomiting, severe headache, and vision changes can be associated with other medical conditions, they are not indicative of hemarthrosis in a patient with hemophilia. Monitoring for joint-related symptoms is crucial in the management of hemophilia to prevent and treat bleeding episodes effectively.