A 2-year-old child who has sickle cell anemia (SCA) comes to the clinic with a cough and a fever of 101.5°C. The child currently takes penicillin V prophylaxis 125 mg orally twice daily. What will the primary care pediatric nurse practitioner do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A fever in a child with SCA could be a sign of a serious infection such as sepsis. Therefore, the child should be admitted to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment. In addition, the child should receive intravenous antibiotics and fluids to manage the infection and prevent dehydration. The penicillin V dose does not need to be increased at this time, as the child is already receiving prophylaxis. A chest radiograph may be ordered as part of the evaluation for pneumonia, but admission to the hospital is the priority.

A 2-Year-Old Child Who Has Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) Comes