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    Ati paediatrics final proctored exam 2025
    Select All That Apply

    A nurse is collecting data from the chart of a child who has streptococcal pharyngitis after being admitted for suspected rheumatic fever. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an indication of possible rheumatic fever? (Select All that Apply)

    Explanation & Rationale

    A. Atrial fibrillation on the cardiac monitor. Rheumatic fever can cause carditis, but atrial fibrillation is not a typical finding. Instead, valvular damage, tachycardia, or murmurs are more commonly observed. B. Elevated BUN and creatinine on morning laboratory results. Rheumatic fever primarily affects the heart, joints, skin, and brain, not the kidneys. Elevated BUN and creatinine are more indicative of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, a separate complication of streptococcal infection. C. Involuntary movements of extremities. Sydenham’s chorea, characterized by involuntary, jerky movements, is a classic neurologic manifestation of rheumatic fever. It results from inflammation affecting the basal ganglia of the brain. D. Alopecia. Rheumatic fever does not cause alopecia. Hair loss is more commonly associated with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, not post-streptococcal complications. E. Report of chest pain. Chest pain can indicate carditis, a major criterion for rheumatic fever. Inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, or pericardium may lead to pain, murmurs, or heart failure symptoms. F. Oliguria. Decreased urine output is more commonly seen in post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis rather than rheumatic fever, as rheumatic fever primarily affects the heart, joints, and nervous system.

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