A child is unconscious after a motor vehicle accident. The watery discharge from the nose tests positive for glucose. The nurse should recognize that this suggests:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of glucose in a watery discharge from the nose following a motor vehicle accident suggests leaking of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), indicating a possible skull fracture or brain injury. CSF often contains glucose, which is not typically found in such high concentrations in nasal secretions from other causes.

A Child Is Unconscious After a Motor Vehicle Accident