Question

The nurse is providing dietary teaching to the mother of a child with celiac disease. Which statement indicates that the mother understands the nurse's teaching? A. "Many sources of protein will need to be restricted in order to prevent brain damage." B. "Most breads, cereals, and crackers will have to be eliminated from his diet." C. "Sources of lactose, including milk, can lead to the development of cataracts." D. "Restricting fat in the diet will help to prevent problems with malabsorption."

Short answer

Answer: Most breads, cereals, and crackers will have to be eliminated from his diet.

Step-by-step solution

Understand celiac disease

Before we go through the given options, let's first briefly understand what celiac disease is. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the consumption of gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) leads to damage in the small intestine. Therefore, individuals with celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet.

Evaluate Option A

Option A states that "Many sources of protein will need to be restricted in order to prevent brain damage." This statement is not entirely accurate. While gluten is a type of protein, many protein sources like meat, fish, and eggs are naturally gluten-free. The statement does not correctly represent the restrictions of a gluten-free diet.

Evaluate Option B

Option B states that "Most breads, cereals, and crackers will have to be eliminated from his diet." This statement is accurate because most breads, cereals, and crackers are made from wheat, barley or rye, and contain gluten. Therefore, this option correctly represents the restrictions of a gluten-free diet for a child with celiac disease.

Evaluate Option C

Option C states that "Sources of lactose, including milk, can lead to the development of cataracts." This statement does not correctly represent the restrictions of a gluten-free diet, as lactose (a sugar found in milk and dairy products) is not related to gluten. Celiac disease does not necessitate restricting lactose, unless the individual also has lactose intolerance.

Evaluate Option D

Option D states that "Restricting fat in the diet will help to prevent problems with malabsorption." Although it is true that celiac disease can cause malabsorption issues, restricting fat alone does not address the primary cause, which is gluten. This statement does not correctly represent the restrictions of a gluten-free diet.

Identify the correct statement

Based on the evaluation of each option, we can conclude that option B "Most breads, cereals, and crackers will have to be eliminated from his diet" is the most accurate statement that indicates the mother understands the dietary restrictions for her child with celiac disease. Therefore, the answer is option B.