Chapter 14-medical Emergencies Flashcards
Trauma emergencies
Generally involved with an external force applied to the body
Medical emergencies
Illnesses or conditions caused by disease
Cardiovascular medical emergency
Are caused by conditions affecting the circulatory system. For example, heart attack, congestive heart failure
Respiratory medical emergencies
Resorts in patients having trouble breathing oh when the amount of oxygen supply to the tissues is in adequate. For example, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis
Neurological medical emergencies
Involve the brain I may be caused by a seizure, stroke, or syncope (fainting)
Gastrointestinal medical emergencies
Most well-known condition is appendicitis, gastrointestinal emergencies can result in a call to EMS for help
Urologic medical conditions
Can involve kidney stones
Endocrine emergencies
Caused by complications of diabetes Mellitus
Immunologic emergencies
Involve the body’s response to foreign substances. When the body overreacts to a foreign substance, it’s commonly referred to as an allergic reaction
Toxicologic emergencies
Including poisoning and substance abuse, result in other types of medical injuries
Psychiatric medical conditions
Involve psychological or behavioral problems. For example, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, depression
Gynecologic emergencies
Special category of medical emergencies that involve the female reproductive organs. Example, vaginal bleeding,’s STD, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy
Nature of illness (NOI)
The general type of illness a patient is experiencing
What is TACOS used for?
It can help you understand the underlying conditions a patient may have that could be complicating the chief complaint. It also helps you understand why the medication is it ministered may or may not work.
What does TACOS stand for?
Tobacco Alcohol Caffeine Over the counter medications/herbal supplements Sexual and street drugs
How should you transport a patient In critical condition?
With lights and sirens
Epidemic
Occurs when new cases of a disease in the human population substantially exceed the number expected based on recent experience
Pandemic
An outbreak that occurs on a global scale
Infectious disease
A medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small harmful organisms within the body
Communicable disease
A disease that can spread from one person or species to another
Influenza
In animal respiratory disease that is mutated to infect humans. It can affect all people, however very young and old people are susceptible to complications
Herpes simplex
A common virus strain carried by humans. 80% of people are asymptomatic, but symptomatic infections cause irruption’s of tiny fluid filled blisters call vesicles in the lips and genitals. Can cause meningitis and pneumonia in dry old or very young people.
How can exposure to HIV occur?
- The patient’s blood is splashed or spread into openings in your body
- you have blood from the infected patient on your hands and touch your eyes
- I need to use to inject a patient breaks your skin
- broken glass in a motor vehicle crash or other incident penetrates your glove and skin, which may have been covered in blood from infected patient
What is hepatitis?
It refers to an inflammation (often infection) of the liver
What are early signs of viral hepatitis?
Loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, fatigue, sore throat, cough, and muscle joint pain
What are later signs of hepatitis?
Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin) and right upper quadrant abdominal pain
Is toxin induced hepatitis contagious?
No
Hepatitis A (infectious)
Transmitted through feces, food, or water
Lasts 2-6 weeks
No chronic condition exists
Vaccine is available, no specific treatment, body will clear on its own
Approx 2% of patients die, after infection, you have lifelong immunity
Hepatitis B
Transmitted through blood, sexual contact, saliva, irons, breast milk
4-12 weeks
Chronic infection affects of the 10% of patients and up to 90% of newborns
Vaccine is available, treatment barely works
Up to 30% of patients can become chronic carriers
Patients are asymptomatic, but could infect others. Approximately 1 to 2% die
Hepatitis C
Blood, sexual contact
2-10 weeks
Chronic infection affects up to 90% of patients
No vaccine is available, treatment is costly but effective for many strains
Cirrhosis of the liver develops and 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C
Increased liver cancer risk
Hepatitis D
Blood, sexual contact 4-12 weeks Chronic infection is common No vaccine/treatment available Occurs only in patients with active hepatitis B infection, disease may develop and 20% of patients
Virulence
The strength or ability of a pathogen to produce disease
Meningitis
An inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal chord
Meningococcal meningitis
Highly contagious. Dangerous
Tuberculosis
A chronic mycobacterial disease that usually strikes the lungs. Disease that occur shortly after infection is called primary tuberculosis
What do you wear when protecting yourself from someone with Tuberculosis
A 95 mask
Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus
A bacterium that causes infections and is resistant to any anabiotic’s
Where is Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus mostly found?
Bats and camels living in the Middle East.
What are some important questions to ask people when they get sick traveling?
- where did you recently traveled?
- Did you receive any vaccinations before your trip?
- Were you exposed to any infectious diseases
- s there anyone else in your travel party was sick
- What types of food did you eat?
- What was your source of water?
