NCLEX Archer Pharmacology Practice Test 2026 - Free Pharmacology Practice Questions and Study Guide

The presence of polyarthritis in a child with rheumatic fever indicates that salicylate therapy should be continued. Salicylates, such as aspirin, are anti-inflammatory medications that are effective in managing the inflammation associated with rheumatic fever, particularly in cases of polyarthritis.

Polyarthritis is characterized by the involvement of multiple joints, leading to pain, swelling, and decreased mobility. The persistence of these symptoms suggests that the inflammatory process is still active, and continued treatment with salicylates can help reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and prevent further complications.

In contrast, the other clinical signs listed—chorea, subcutaneous nodules, and erythema marginatum—are components of rheumatic fever but might not serve as clear indicators for the need to maintain salicylate therapy. Chorea may require different management strategies, while subcutaneous nodules and erythema marginatum are typically more benign manifestations that may not necessitate the continuation of salicylate therapy as urgently as polyarthritis does. Thus, persistent polyarthritis is the clearest indicator of the need to continue salicylate treatment in this context.