Question

A mother has brought her 5-month-old son to the clinic because he has been drowsy and unresponsive. The child has hydrocephalus and had a shunt placed about a month previously. Which of the following symptoms indicate that the shunt is infected?

The child has a high-pitched cry.
The fontanels are bulging or tense.
The child is not responding or eating well.
The child's pupil reaction time is rapid and uneven.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is- the child is not responding or eating well.

Explanation:

Lack of responsiveness and not eating properly establishes these are the signs that the child has an infection. There might be some inflammation along with the shunt tract.

Shunt malfunction is characterized by the fontanel bulging or tense, the rapid reaction time of pupil and high pitch cry, which is causing an increase in intracranial pressure so it can not be a symptom.

Thus, the correct answer is - the child is not responding or eating well.