Pediatric Nursing Demystified

Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip

What Went Wrong?

A cleft palate and cleft lip is a birth defect caused by chromosomal abnormal-

ities or exposure to alcohol, anticonvulsant medication, and other teratogens

resulting in the upper jaw and palate bone and tissue not fusing together prop-

erly in the second month of pregnancy.

Nursing alert A cleft palate may not be detected until feeding problems

develop or until the first-month examination of the infant if the infant’s lip is

normal.

Signs and Symptoms

Distended abdominal due to swallowing air

Abnormal formation of the lip

Abnormal formation of the palate

CHAPTER 11/ Gastrointestinal Conditions^235

1. A 16-year-old was taken to the Emergency Department (ED) complaining about
   abdominal pain on the lower right quadrant, nausea, and vomiting. He guards the
   area when you palpating it. Fifteen minutes after you assessed the child, he reports
   feeling much better now that the pain went away. What is your best response?
   a. Notify the health-care provider immediately and prepare to take the patient to surgery.
   b. Notify the health-care provider and prepare to discharge the patient.
   c. Tell the patient that he’ll need to stay in the ED for a few hours for observation.
   d. Tell the patient that the pain will likely reoccur and that he’ll need to stay in the
   ED until the results of the lab tests are returned.
   Answer:


2. The mother of a 7-month-old tells you that her child acts strangely when she is given
   oatmeal for breakfast. What is your best response?
   a. Tell the mother that the child has celiac disease.
   b. Tell the mother to change brands of oatmeal.
   c. Ask the mother if the child’s stools are foul-smelling and if the child has diarrhea
   and is vomiting after breakfast.
   d. Tell the mother that the child is simply fussing.
   Answer:

✔ ROUTINE CHECKUP 1