A nurse is assessing a child who is being treated for bacterial pneumonia. The nurse notes an increase in the child’s blood glucose. The nurse should identify this finding as an adverse effect of which of the following medication?

A. Methylprednisolone: This corticosteroid is commonly used to reduce inflammation in conditions like pneumonia. One of its known adverse effects is hyperglycemia, especially during stress or infection, due to its role in increasing gluconeogenesis and decreasing peripheral glucose uptake. B. Ondansetron: This antiemetic is used to prevent nausea and vomiting. It does not significantly affect blood glucose levels and is not associated with hyperglycemia as an adverse effect. C. Guaifenesin: As an expectorant, guaifenesin helps loosen mucus in the airways but has no known effect on glucose metabolism. It is not linked to elevated blood glucose in clinical use. D. Amoxicillin: This antibiotic is effective in treating bacterial pneumonia but does not impact glucose levels. Hyperglycemia is not a typical adverse effect of this medication.