CLINICAL ASSESSMENT Flashcards
are defined as observations, made by a qualified examiner, of which the patient is usually unaware.
Signs
are clinical manifestations reported by the patient.
Symptoms
is predominantly a protein deficiency
Kwashiorkor
is mainly an
energy deficiency
marasmus
is characterized by alternating bands of depigmented and normal colored hair produced by alternating periods of poor and relatively good protein intake
Flag sign
a failure to gain
weight and height at the expected rate, is the most common sign of malnutrition in children.
Growth failure
remains one of the most severe and important nutritional deficiencies in the world today. Every age group is vulnerable.
Iron deficiency, and specifically iron deficiency anemia
Subjects with severe anemia can usually be detected by clinical examination for significant
pallor of the eyelids, tongue, nail beds, and palms
feeling mentally tired irritable, dizzy or losing concentration quickly
mental fatigue
reduced physical capacity
shortness of breath
is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children and increases the risk of disease and death from severe infections. In pregnant women causes night blindness and may increase the risk of maternal mortality.
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD)
First sign of xerophthalmia; also referred to as nyctalopia
At daytime, reduced dark adaptation, frequent blinking, firm
closure of the eyes, photophobia, inability to look straight forward
Night blindness (XN)
is a term used to describe eye changes when secretion normally present on
the surface of the conjunctiva
Xerophthalmia
is the world’s most prevalent, yet easily preventable, cause of brain damage. Can lead to enlargement of the thyroid, hypothyroidism and to intellectual
disabilities in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy.
Iodine deficiency
– symptoms include swelling of the neck, lassitude, and easy fatigability.
Goiter
When thyroid hormone levels are too low, the body’s cells can’t get
enough thyroid hormone and the body’s processes start slowing down
Hypothyroidism
– unreactive, unresponsive, disinterested, and inattentive to surroundings
apathy
pronounced wasting of subcutaneous fat without edema; apathy
may be present; face and eyes of the child may appear unusually bright due to the
combination of wasting and prominence of the eyes
Clinical marasmus
hyper responsive, excessive or overreaction to minor stimuli particularly manifest through crying or unusual indication of fear as a result of minor or relatively insignificant happenings
Irritability
pitting edema on the pretibial region, underweight, undersize,
underdeveloped for age; muscular wasting may be present masked by edema; hair becomes thin; easily pluckable with flag sign, and change in texture to silken, sparse hair
Kwashiorkor
paleness and loss of color of skin, nail buds, mucosa, and lips
pallor
– an underweight, undersized, underdeveloped child, without the evident pronounced wasting present in marasmus
Pre-kwashiorkor
– presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid in the
intercellular tissue spaces of the body
Dependent edema
– symmetrical lesions typical of acute or chronic, mild or sever
pellagra; lesions are red, often swollen or blistered skin like sunburn, pigmented,
scaly over exposed areas
Pellagrous dermatitis
an outward curve of one or both legs at or below the knee
Bowleg
– a clinical term used to describe a dry and crinkled skin which is
accentuated by punching the skin parallel to its surface
Xerosis
exhibited by unusual prominence of bony skeleton, undue degree
of folding of the skin of the buttocks, or the abnormal flabby feel of the child with poor
muscle tone
Muscle wasting
