A school-age child has leukemia. Considering the diagnosis and health teaching needs, the nurse would be most correct in advising this child to:
Explanation
Answer - B - Brushing the teeth with a soft toothbrush can prevent bleeding gums due to thrombocytopenia, which is common in children with leukemia; in addition, chemotherapy may also cause oral mucous membrane ulceration. Choice C is not applicable because it might cause a break in the gums, leading to infection. Rinsing the mouth only (Choice D) might also lead to infection, because this would not necessarily clean the gums and teeth adequately; likewise, infection might be caused by not brushing the teeth (Choice A).
