Question

In assessing a 70-year-old client with Alzheimer's disease, the nurse notes that the client has deep inflamed cracks at the corners of the mouth. Which intervention should the nurse include in this client's plan of care?

a. Scrub the lesions with warm soapy water.
b. Notify the healthcare provider of the need for oral antibiotics.
c. Ensure that the client gets adequate B vitamins in foods or supplements.
d. Encourage the client to drink orange juice for added vitamin C.

Answer 1

The nurse should ensure the client receives adequate B vitamins, as the deep inflamed cracks at the corners of the mouth are likely a sign of nutritional deficiencies, specifically B vitamins, that can be remedied with proper dietary intake or supplements.

Step-by-step explanation:

In assessing a 70-year-old client with Alzheimer's disease who has deep, inflamed cracks at the corners of the mouth, it is likely that the client is experiencing angular cheilitis, which can be associated with nutritional deficiencies, including deficiency in B vitamins. The most appropriate nursing intervention to include in this client's plan of care would be option c: Ensure that the client gets adequate B vitamins in foods or supplements. Angular cheilitis can be a sign of B vitamin deficiencies, particularly riboflavin (B2) and cobalamin (B12). Ensuring a proper intake of these vitamins can help in the healing of the cracks at the corners of the mouth. This is more targeted than providing vitamin C, and using harsh cleaning methods or unnecessary antibiotics should be avoided unless there is clinical evidence of a bacterial infection that warrants such treatment.