Chaper 12: Medical Overview

Question 1

What medical emergencies warrrant a priority transport (lights and sirens)?

Answer 1

• Altered mental status
• Circulatory compromise
• Repiratory compromise

Question 2

What’s the acronym for understanding underlying conditions that may complicate the chief complicate (medical examination)?

Answer 2

• T: Tobacco
• A: Alcohol
• C: Caffeine
• O: Over the counter/herbal supplements
• S: Sexual/street drugs

Question 3

Describe

Herpes simplex

Answer 3

80% asymptomatic, transmitted through close personal contact (standard precautions)

Question 4

Describe

HIV

Answer 4

Spread on mucous membane or directly into bloodstream (pt’s blood or bodily fluids)

Question 5

Describe

Syphilis

Answer 5

Sexually transmitted and bloodborne,produces lesion called chancre, cured with penicillin

Question 6

Describe

Hepatitis A

Answer 6

Acute infection, only transmitted during acute infection, through oral/fecal contamination

Question 7

Describe

Hepatitis B

Answer 7

Bloodborne, sexual contact, saliva, urine, breat milk. Most contagious form, vaccine available, treatment minimally effective. Up to 30% pt’s become chronic carriers.

Question 8

Describe

Hepatitis

Answer 8

Inflammation of liver, caused by viruses and toxins, URQ pain, jaundice, muscle and joint pain, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever, vomiting, los appetite

Question 9

Describe

Hepatitis D

Answer 9

Only in pt’s with Hep B. No vaccine or treatment

Question 10

Describe

Meningitis

Answer 10

Inflammation of the meninges (covering of brain and spinal cord). Fever, headache, stiff neck, AMS. Meningoccocal meningitis is highly contagious, only rarely causes acute infection. Gloves and mask. Risk of infection small, antiobiotics work.

Question 11

Describe

Tuberculosis

Answer 11

Affects lungs. After primary infection, becomes dormant, but can reactivate and be difficult to treat. Pt’s with cough pose highest risk, consider resp TB to be only contagious form (droplet nuclei are dangerous). Skin test (PPD) determines exposure, takes 6 weeks for detectable level. Therapy almost 100% effective. HEPA mask.

Question 12

Describe

Whooping cough

Answer 12

(Pertussis), airborne, bacterial, usually in < 6 yo’s, S/S whoop sound on inhalation. Mask on pt and EMT

Question 13

Describe

MRSA

Answer 13

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Bacteria resistant to most antibiotics. Transmitted usually by unwashed hands.

Question 14

Describe

Hepatitis C

Answer 14

Blood, sexual contact. Chronic infection in 90% pt’s. No vaccine, treatment minimally effective.

Question 15

Describe

Hantavirus

Answer 15

Through rodent urine and droppings. Rare but deadly.

Question 16

Describe

West Nile virus

Answer 16

Mosquito is vector. Not communicable.

Question 17

Describe

SARS

Answer 17

Severe acute respiratory syndrome. Viral infection, starts with flu-like symptoms (sometimes –> pneumonia, resp failure, death). Close personal contact.

Question 18

Describe

Avian Flu

Answer 18

Birds contract it from contaminated feces. Transmission risk b/w humans low, usually only in people who have close contact with domestic birds.

Question 19

Describe

H1N1

Answer 19

“Swine flu”. Just one type of influenza.

Question 20

What is NOI?

Answer 20

Nature of illness. Like MOI for medical pt’s.

Question 21

How do you test for tuberculosis and what are the limitations?

Answer 21

PPD skin test. Tests for exposure, and takes 6 weeks after exposure.