The nurse is assessing a client with cancer who is receiving chemotherapy. The client states that his mouth hurts and there are furry, white patches on his tongue. The nurse suspects the white patches are a symptom of what?

Choice A rationale Stomatitis is a general term for inflammation or soreness of the mouth lining, which may include ulcers or redness. While chemotherapy often causes stomatitis, the description of furry, white patches is a more specific presentation that strongly suggests a fungal infection, rather than just the general inflammation known as stomatitis. Choice B rationale Furry, white patches on the tongue of an immunocompromised client receiving chemotherapy are the classic clinical presentation for oral candidiasis (thrush), which is a fungal infection caused by Candida albicans. Chemotherapy causes immunosuppression and disrupts the normal oral flora, making the client highly susceptible to opportunistic infections like candidiasis. Choice C rationale Poor oral hygiene can lead to plaque, gingivitis, or generalized debris, but it is not the direct cause of the characteristic furry, white patches described. These patches are pseudomembranous lesions indicative of an active fungal infection, and they would not be solely attributed to a lack of proper oral hygiene practices. Choice D rationale Oral dysplasia refers to the presence of abnormal, pre-cancerous cells in the mouth lining and usually presents as white or red lesions that do not easily rub off and lack the furry texture. The described white patches are characteristic of candidiasis, a treatable infection, not a precancerous condition like oral dysplasia.