Question

The primary care nurse practitioner is examining a 5-year-old child who has had recurrent fevers, bone pain, and a recent loss of weight. The physical exam reveals scattered petechiae, lymphadenopathy, and bruising. A complete blood count shows thrombocytopenia, anemia, and an elevated white cell blood count. The nurse practitioner will refer this child to a specialist for what diagnostic testing

Answer 1

Answer: the nurse will refer this child to a specialist for a bone marrow biopsy.

Explanation:

From the symptoms which where observed by the primary health care provider, the child had recurrent fevers, bone pain, and a recent loss of weight. While the physical examination revealed scattered petechiae, lymphadenopathy, and bruising. On further Laboratory diagnosis of the blood film, the full blood count revealed:

--> thrombocytopenia ( low platelet level)

--> anemia( lack of red blood cells) and

--> an elevated white blood cell count.

The major importance of full blood count is to evaluate the general health and detect a variety of of disorders. Since the blood picture is not normal, the health care provider should refer the child for BONE MARROW BIOPSY.

This is because the blood cells are produced from the bone marrow. Bone marrow biopsy is a test done to show if the bone marrow is healthy and able to make normal amount of blood cells.

The results of the bone marrow biopsy will help the primary care nurse to determine the cause of the abnormalities seen in the blood picture and will give the best directions to follow for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.