Question

A 26-year-old female client informs the nurse that she has had red, raised lesions at the base of the tongue and on the inside of her mouth for the past 2 weeks. What question should the nurse ask the client?

a. "Have you seen a dentist recently?"
b. "Do you smoke cigarettes?"
c. "Do you have a history of HIV?"
d. "What type of work do you do?"

Answer 1

Option C. The nurse should ask the patient if she has a history of HIV because the symptoms reported could indicate an opportunistic infection common in immunocompromised individuals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns a 26-year-old female client with red, raised lesions at the base of the tongue and inside of her mouth, which could be indicative of various medical conditions. As these symptoms could be related to a systemic issue or an infection, the most appropriate question the nurse should ask is.

This question addresses the potential for an immunocompromised state, which could predispose the patient to opportunistic infections such as oral thrush or herpetic gingivostomatitis, conditions more commonly found in individuals with weakened immune systems. Other questions regarding dental visits, smoking habits, and employment may have relevance, but are less directly connected to the clinical presentation suggestive of immunocompromise.