A child with a cardiac malformation associated with left-to-right shunting. What does this type of congenital disorder lead to primarily?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Left-to-right shunting in a cardiac malformation results in increased blood flow to the lungs. This increased blood flow can lead to pulmonary hypertension and heart failure if left untreated. Elevated hematocrit (Choice A) is not a characteristic directly associated with left-to-right shunting. Severe growth retardation (Choice B) is not a typical manifestation of this type of congenital disorder. Clubbing of the fingers and toes (Choice C) is more commonly seen in conditions like chronic respiratory or cardiac diseases, not specifically with left-to-right shunting and associated cardiac malformations.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Positive fibrin split products are indicative of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In DIC, there is widespread clotting and subsequent consumption of clotting factors, leading to the formation of fibrin split products. A shortened prothrombin time (Choice A) is not typically seen in DIC as it indicates faster clotting, which is opposite to the pathophysiology of DIC. An increased fibrinogen level (Choice B) may be observed in the early stages of DIC due to the compensatory increase in production, but it is not a definitive indicator. Increased platelets (Choice D) may be seen in the early stages of DIC due to the body's attempt to compensate for clot formation, but it is not a specific finding for DIC.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Clubbing of fingers. Clubbing of fingers is a common manifestation in children with tetralogy of Fallot due to chronic hypoxia. This condition causes the fingertips and nails to enlarge, creating a bulbous or club-like appearance. Slow respirations (Choice A) are not a typical clinical manifestation of tetralogy of Fallot. Decreased RBC counts (Choice C) may be seen in conditions like anemia but are not specific to tetralogy of Fallot. Subcutaneous hemorrhages (Choice D) are not a characteristic clinical manifestation of tetralogy of Fallot.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is Varicella (chickenpox), choice A. Varicella can lead to the complication of encephalitis, which is the inflammation of the brain. Scarlet fever (choice B) is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria and does not typically lead to encephalitis. Poliomyelitis (choice C) is a viral infection that affects the nervous system but does not directly cause encephalitis. Whooping cough (choice D), also known as pertussis, primarily affects the respiratory system and does not commonly result in encephalitis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Infants may have difficulty regulating glucose and electrolytes due to their immature endocrine systems. This can lead to issues such as hypoglycemia and electrolyte imbalances. Choice A is incorrect because endocrine glands actually begin developing early in gestation, not just in the third trimester. Choice B is incorrect as endocrine glands are not fully functional at birth; they continue to mature and develop after birth. Choice D is incorrect as a child's endocrine system has a significant impact on growth and development through the secretion of hormones that regulate various processes in the body, but it does not specifically address the difficulty in regulating glucose and electrolytes seen in infants.