What intervention(s) would the nurse caring for a child with infectious meningitis include? (Select all that apply.)
Explanation & Rationale
A. Observation for increasing intracranial pressure is a critical intervention in the care of a child with infectious meningitis. Meningitis can lead to inflammation of the meninges, which may result in increased pressure within the skull. B. Isolation precautions may be necessary depending on the causative organism and mode of transmission of the infectious meningitis. Bacterial meningitis, for example, may require droplet precautions to prevent the spread of infection to others. D. Lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap) is a diagnostic procedure often performed to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis in cases of suspected meningitis. It is an essential intervention in the diagnostic workup of infectious meningitis as it helps identify the causative organism and guide appropriate treatment. C. Seizure precautions are important for children with infectious meningitis, as meningitis can increase the risk of seizures due to inflammation and irritation of the brain. C. Bright lights can exacerbate symptoms such as headache and photophobia (sensitivity to light) in patients with meningitis, especially during the acute phase of illness. Therefore, it is not advisable to turn lights on to brighten the room for a child with infectious meningitis.