The mother of a 1-month-old infant calls the nurse at the health clinic. The mother is concerned because the infant has had vomiting and diarrhea for 2 days. What instruction should the nurse give this infant's mother?

Question

1. Bring the infant to the clinic for evaluation.
2. Give the infant at least 2 ounces of juice every 2 hours.
3. Measure the infant's urine output for 24 hours.
4. Provide the infant with 50 mL of glucose water.

Answer 1

1. Bring the infant to the clinic for evaluation.

Rationale:
Parents and caregivers need to be taught the seriousness of vomiting or diarrhea in infants due to rapid fluid loss that can occur in this age group. They should also be taught the importance of bringing an infant in this situation to health care providers for evaluation. Encouraging fluids for an infant who is actively vomiting will not improve fluid balance status, nor is juice or glucose water the best choice of fluid. Simply monitoring the loss over the next 24 hours would increase the potential for the infant to become dehydrated.