A nurse is performing an assessment for a 5-year-old child who has celiac disease. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion, leading to damage in the small intestine. Assessing this condition requires knowledge of malabsorption syndromes and the resulting physical manifestations that occur when essential nutrients are not absorbed properly. Choice A rationale This is an expected finding because gluten-induced villous atrophy leads to impaired absorption of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Chronic malabsorption in children often results in failure to thrive, muscle wasting, and significant nutritional deficiencies over time. Choice B rationale A sausage-shaped mass in the upper right quadrant is a classic clinical sign of intussusception, not celiac disease. In intussusception, one segment of the intestine telescopes into another, causing obstruction and palpable mass during physical examination. Choice C rationale Red, currant jelly-like stools containing blood and mucus are characteristic of intussusception. This occurs due to intestinal ischemia and mucosal shedding. Celiac disease typically presents with steatorrhea, which are foul-smelling, fatty, frothy, and pale stools. Choice D rationale Hematemesis, or vomiting blood, is not associated with celiac disease. It typically indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding from sources such as esophageal varices, gastritis, or peptic ulcers. Celiac disease primarily affects the lower digestive processes in the small intestine.