Disease Processes Flashcards
DKA
Diabetic Ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia
History of Type I diabetes
Blood glucose >200
Warm, dry skin
Polyuria and polydipsia
Kussmaul respirations
Tachycardia
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Acetone breath
Low EtCo2 levels
HHNS
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome
most common amongst older Type II Diabetics preceded by infection.
- hyperglycemia (>600 mg/dl) - Altered Mental Status - Lethargy - Visual/Sensory deficits - Muscle weakness or partial paralysis - Seizures.
Peritonitis
an infection of the peritoneum, can be caused by the rupture of an organ or bacteria moving out of the intestine.
abdominal pain begins as a DULL pain and progresses into a SHARP pain.
small bumps or jarring of the abdomen can cause extreme pain.
Cushing Syndrome
aka Cushing’s disease or hyperCORTISOLism, is a rare, chronic hormonal disorder that occurs when the body produces too much cortisol over a long period of time.
Cortisol is sometimes called the “stress hormone” because it helps the body respond to stress.
OT is FAT and Hyper, Mood? Depressed
w/increased Acne/Facial hair.
S/S:
Obesity
Thin/darkened skin
Fatigue
HIGH Blood sugar
Mood swings
Depression
increased acne and facial hair
Ulcerative Colitis
inflammatory auto-immune bowel disease of the colon and the cause of the condition is unknown.
Colon polyps are causes of lower GI bleeding.
Causes intestinal wall thinning
Weak, dilated rectum.
The disease most often affects patients ages 15-25 and 55-65 years of age.
S/S:
Bloody diarrhea
LLQ abdominal pain
Tenesmus (feeling of rectal fullness)
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Fever.
Crohn’s disease
Involves the entire GI tract unlike ulcerative colitis, which only affects a portion of the GI tract.
S/S
RLQ abdominal pain
Weight loss
Diarrhea
Skin problems
Rectal bleeding.
Gastritis
Inflammation of the stomach, which is commonly caused by the frequent use of NSAIDs.
S/S
Fatigue
Epigastric pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Diverticulitis
when small pouches in the intestinal lining called diverticula become inflamed or infected in the colon
-
S/S
Abdominal pain in lower quadrant or quadrants.
Fever
Body aches
Malaise
Vomiting.
Mallory-Weiss syndrome
Upper GI bleeding.
Caused by alcohol intoxication.
Upper GI bleed
- hematemesis
- melena.
A tear in the mucosal lining of the esophagus.
Hematemesis
the vomiting of blood, which can be a sign of a serious internal bleeding condition.
The blood may be bright red or look like coffee grounds, from the upper GI tract, such as the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, or small intestine.
A 26-year-old male is complaining of shortness of breath. He reports a history of hypertension and sickle cell disease. You note the patient is pale and lethargic. What should you suspect?
Splenic sequestration crisis
Aplastic crisis
Acute chest syndrome
Hemorrhagic crisis
Correct answer: Aplastic crisis
Patients with sickle cell disease commonly suffer from an aplastic crisis or a hemolytic crisis.
The patient is complaining of shortness of breath. You noted pallor and lethargy, which are indicative of an aplastic crisis.
In an aplastic crisis, the body has stopped producing red blood cells (RBCs).
The lack of RBCs leads to shortness of breath, fatigue, and anemia.
Esophageal varices
bleeding veins in the esophagus.
Usually cause sudden massive hemorrhage in patients with alcohol dependency issues and liver disease.
Many patients will bleed to death within minutes.
Esophageal varices are a true emergency.
S/S:
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting of bright red blood
Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix.
Rebound tenderness.
-palpating the patient’s abdomen, and when the pressure is released, there’s an increase in pain.
S/S:
sharp abdominal pain in the RLQ
nausea,
fever
decrease in appetite
Huntington disease
Causes degeneration of neurons within the brain that causes uncontrollable movements and intellectual and emotional issues.
HHNS
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome
Type II Diabetes
Hyperglycemia > 600
