A child has a fever and arthralgia. The primary care pediatric nurse practitioner
learns that the child had a sore throat 3 weeks prior and auscultates a murmur in the clinic. Which test will the nurse practitioner order?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presentation of fever, arthralgia, and a murmur following a sore throat suggests a possible rheumatic fever. The ASO titer is a blood test used to detect antibodies produced in response to a streptococcal infection, which can help confirm a diagnosis of rheumatic fever. The anti-DNase B test is another blood test that can detect antibodies produced in response to a streptococcal infection, but it may not be as specific to rheumatic fever as the ASO titer. The rapid strep test and throat culture are used to diagnose current streptococcal infections and may not be as helpful in diagnosing a past infection that has led to complications such as rheumatic fever.

A Child Has a Fever and Arthralgia