Medical Emergencies

Question 1

What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis? And what is it?

Answer 1

Anaphylaxis is movement of tissue from the vascular system to surrounding tissue fluid, causing swelling.

Symptoms include

• swelling of lips tongue and throat
• confusion, loss of consciousness, light headedness
• wheeze, shortness of breath
• skin itch
• GIT pain or loss of control
• tachycardia or bradycardia, low BP

Question 2

How should anaphylaxis be treated as a medical emergency in adults and children?

Answer 2

500mg adrenaline IM injection

150mg if <6yrs

300mg if 6-12 yrs

Question 3

What are the symptoms of a heart attack? What causes it?

Answer 3

A heart attack is caused by a blockage of coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle, causing it to lack in blood flow and oxygen.

Symptoms include

• chest pain / discomfort
• lightheadedness, nausea / vomiting
• discomfort, pain or numbness down left arm or shoulder
• jaw neck or back pain
• shortness of breath

Question 4

What is the medical emergency treatment for a heart attack?

Answer 4

300mg aspirin chewed or crushed orally

Question 5

What is hypoglycaemia and its symptoms?

Answer 5

It is where blood sugar drops too low.

Symptoms include

• sweating and irritability
• tiredness and dizziness
• shaking and heart palpitations
• tingling lips

Question 6

How should one treat hypoglycaemia when the patient is unconscious? Adult / child?

Answer 6

Glucagon delivered IM, 1mg

In child, 0.5mg <8yrs

Question 7

How should one treat hypoglycaemia when the patient can swallow?

Answer 7

15-20g fast acting glucose.

3-4 tabs of glucose plus glass of sugar juice such as OJ

Question 8

What is angina?

Answer 8

Severe chest pain due to lack of blood flow and oxygen to cardiac tissue. Similar symptoms to heart attack.

Question 9

How should angina / suspected heart attack be treated as a medical emergency?

Answer 9

Glyceryl trinitrate spray, 2 sprays sublingually. Can be continued.

Question 10

What should you give the patient if they are having prolonged convulsive seizures? What about a child?

Answer 10

10mg Midazolam buccal route (placed against gums and cheeks)

1-5yrs = 5mg

5-10 yrs = 7.5mg

Question 11

What is an asthma attack and its symptoms?

Answer 11

An asthma attack is a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms. Bronchial muscles contact and mucous is overproduced, narrowing the airways. This Is often brought about by allergy or certain triggers.

Symptoms include

• coughing
• wheezing
• shortness of breath
• chest tightness

Question 12

How should asthma be treated as a medical emergency?

Answer 12

2 shorts of a short acting beta agonist inhaler

E.g. salbutamol inhaler