Question

123. The nurse is caring for several hospitalized children with the following diagnoses. Which disorder is likely to result in metabolic acidosis?

A) Severe diarrhea for 24 hours
B) Nausea with anorexia
C) Alternating constipation and diarrhea
D) Vomiting for over 48 hours

Answer 1

Severe diarrhea for 24 hours is likely to result in metabolic acidosis due to the loss of bicarbonate, leading to an accumulation of acid metabolites in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

The disorder among those listed that is likely to result in metabolic acidosis is severe diarrhea for 24 hours (Option A). When a patient experiences severe diarrhea, the body loses significant amounts of bicarbonate, a critical buffer in maintaining the body's pH balance. This loss leads to acid metabolites building up in the blood, consequently causing metabolic acidosis. Noteworthy is that Option D, vomiting for over 48 hours, typically results in metabolic alkalosis, not acidosis, due to the loss of hydrogen and chloride ions from the body.