A 5-year-old child is brought to the emergency department after ingesting diphenhydramine [Benadryl]. The child is uncoordinated and agitated. The nurse observes that the child's face is flushed, the temperature is 37.1 oC,
and the heart rate is 110 beats per minute. The nurse will ex-pect to:
a. administer atropine to reverse the adverse effects.
b. apply ice packs to stop the flushing.
c. give activated charcoal to absorb the drug.
d. prepare to provide mechanical ventilation.
C
In acute toxicity, patients present with agitation, a flushed face, tachycardia, and uncoordinated movements. There is no specific antidote, so drug removal is the focus of treatment, starting with activated charcoal to absorb the drug, followed by a cathartic to enhance excretion. Atropine would cause an increase in the heart rate. Application of ice packs is recommended for hyper-thermia and not for flushing. The child's temperature is normal. Mechanical ventilation is not indicated with this presentation of symptoms, although cardiovascular collapse may eventually develop.
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