Question

Which intervention will the nurse include in the care
plan for a patient hospitalized with viral hepatitis?

a) Bland diet
b) Administer antibiotics as ordered.
c) Increase fluid intake to 3000 mL per day
d) Adequate bedrest

Answer 1

Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver due to many factors like hepatotoxins, immunological reactions, viruses etc. Hepatitis, which is caused by viruse is known as viral hepatitis. There are different types of viral hepatitis based on the types of viruses which include: hepatitis A, B,C,D,E,G. The most common among them are hepatitis A,B and C.

In the given question, we can directly eliminate the second option (administer antibiotics as ordered) as viral hepatitis is caused by virus and hence antibiotics are not effective. Regarding diet, it is not mandatory that a bland diet must be given. Bland diet means a diet which is soft, low in spices and fibre which doesn't include raw foods, fried foods and all. A patient with hepatitis should eat high carbohydrate, low fat diet as small and fequent meals which should include lots of fruits and vegetables. So we can eliminate the first option (bland diet) also. Among the remaining options, increased fluid intake and adequate bed rest, both are important. But as far as a hospitalized client is concerned, the fluid intake has to be increased upto 3000ml as nausea and vomiting are very common among hepatitis patients. Therefore, to compensate dehydration an adequate fluid therapy must be initiated.

Therefore, the correct answer here is option c (Increase fluid intake to 3000 mL per day.