Muscular Pathophysiology Flashcards
What is botulism?
Botulism is a disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract but is also affects various muscle groups.
What demographic is most at risk for botulism?
It commonly affects infants
Is botulism acute or chronic?
Botulism is acute but its effects can be chronic
What causes botulism?
It is caused by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. It lives in soil and water but if it gets in food it produces a toxin that can lead to food poisoning.
What foods are most likely to contain clostridium botulinum?
-Canned vegetables
-Cured Pork
-Raw fish
-Honey
-Corn Syrup
What is another way to acquaint clostridium botulinum?
Improperly cleaned opened wounds
What are the signs and symptoms of botulism?
-Dysphagia(difficulty swallowing)
-Paralysis
-Muscle weakness
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Abdominal cramps
-Double vision
-Dyspnea
-Poor feeding and sucking in infants
-The absence of reflexes
-Inability to urinate
How soon do the signs and symptoms of botulism appear?
8 to 40 hours after after the toxin has been ingested
What is the diagnostic criteria for botulism?
-Physical exams
-Brain scans
-cerebrospinal fluid testing
-muscle and nerve testing
-lab test of blood, stool or vomit
-analysis of suspected food
What are the treatment options for botulism?
-Emergency hospitalization
-Intubation
-Mechanical ventilation
-IV fluids if swallowing is impaired
-Administration of antitoxin
-
How do you prevent botulism?
-Never give honey or corn syrup to infants
-Sterilize home-canned food containers properly (240degrees for 35 minutes)
-Do not use foods from bent cans or bulging cans
-Never eat foods that smell as if they may have spoiled
-Cook and store foods properly
What is fibromyalgia?
A fairly common condition that results in chronic pain, primarily in the joints, muscles and tendons.
What is the demographic most affected by fibromyalgia?
Females between the ages of 20 and 50.
What are the causes of fibromyalgia?
The causes of this disorder are poorly understood.
It may be caused by:
-sleep disturbance,
-emotional distress
-decreased blood flow to muscles
-a virus
-a combination of the factors above
What are the signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia?
-Fatigue
-Tenderness in different areas of the body
-Sleep disturbances
-Chronic facial pain
What is the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia?
Diagnosis is usually made after a person has had muscle and joint pain for at least 3 months
What are the treatment methods for fibromyalgia?
-Antidepressants
-Anti-inflammatory
-Nerve pain medications
-Physical therapy
-lifestyle changes to reduce stress
-counseling to improve coping strategies
-reduction or elimination of caffeine to improve sleep
-dietary supplements to improve nutrition
What is muscular dystrophy?
A group of inherited disorders characterized by muscle weakness and a loss of muscle tissue
How many types of muscular dystrophy are there?
There are at least 7 types of muscular dystrophy and they differ from each other by symptoms, age when symptoms appear and cause.
What are the causes of muscular dystrophy?
It is hereditary
What is the most common form of muscular dystrophy?
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
What are the signs and symptoms of muscular dystrophy?
-Muscular weakness
-difficulty walking
-drooling
-delayed development of motor skills
-frequent falls
-intellectual disabilities in some types
-a curved spine
-formation of a claw hand or clubbed foot
-a loss of muscle mass
-accumulation of fat or fibrous tissue connective tissue in muscles
- arrhythmias
-death
What is the diagnostic criteria for muscular dystrophy?
-A muscle biopsy
-DNA testing
-An electromyography test (EMG)
-An ECG
What are the treatment options for muscular dystrophy?
-Physical therapy
-The use of braces
-The use of wheelchairs
-Various medications based on type of MD
-Spinal surgery
What is Myasthenia Gravia?
A condition in which affected people experience muscle weakness. A person produces antibodies that prevent muscles from receiving neurotransmitters from neurons.
Which demographic is most affected by myasthenia gravis?
Young females and older males especially if they have autoimmune disorders
What are the causes of myasthenia gravis?
Usually considered to be an autoimmune disease
What are the signs and symptoms of myasthenia gravis?
-Double vision
-muscle weakness
-dysphagia(difficulty swallowing)
-difficulty talking
-chewing
-lifting
-walking
-fatigue
-drooling
-difficulty breathing
What is the diagnostic criteria for myasthenia gravis?
Single fiber EMG test
Acetylcholine receptor antibody test
Edrophonium test
What are the treatment options for myasthenia gravis?
-Lifestyle changes
-Adequate rest
-Use of an eye patch
-medication to improve communication between nerves and muscles
-Medications to suppress the immune system
-Plasmapheresis to remove harmful antibodies from blood
-removal of thymus
What is rhabdomyolysis?
A condition in which the kidneys have been damaged in relation to serious muscle injuries
What causes rhabdomyolysis?
Damage to the muscles causes excessive myoglobin to leak out which is then broken down into harmful substances
What are the signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis?
-Dark urine
-muscle tenderness
-muscle weakness
-muscle stiffness
-seizures
-joint pain
-fatigue
What is the diagnostic criteria for rhabdomyolysis?
-urinalysis for presence of myoglobin, creatine Phosphokinase and creatinine
-Blood is also tested for presence of myoglobin, CPK, or high levels of potassium.
What is Creatine Phosphokinase(CPK)?
It is an enzyme that is released into the blood when muscles are damaged.
What is creatinine?
Creatinine is a protein released by the breakdown of muscle tissue
What are treatment options for rhabdomyolysis?
Treatment includes hydration to rapidly eliminate toxins from the kidneys, diuretics to help flush toxins from the body, medications to flush excess potassium from the body, and therapy for kidney failure.
What is tendonitis?
Tendonitis is a painful inflammation of a tendon as well as a tendon-muscle attachment to a bone.
Where are the most common locations on the body for tendonitis?
-The shoulder
-The hip
-The heel
-The hamstrings
What other disease is tendonitis associated with?
Bursitis
What causes tendonitis?
-Usually a sports related injury
-Other musculoskeletal disorders may make it worse
What are the signs and symptoms of tendonitis?
Pain and the joint or muscle attachment that result in limited range of motion of the affected area
What are the diagnostic criteria for tendonitis?
-Physical exam
-x-ray to rule out other conditions
What is the treatment for tendonitis?
-Ice on the affected area for the first 12 to 24 hours to minimize inflammation
- Applying heat to help with joint and muscle pain
-Resting the affected area
-Oral analgesics to control pain and inflammation
What happens if heat is applied to an area of tendonitis that has been found to contain calcium deposits?
It may exacerbate the condition. Once should be applied in that case
What is Tetanus?
It is a serious bacterial infection that causes painful muscle spasms and can lead to death.
Which demographic is most at risk for death by tetanus?
Infants and children
What is the cause of tetanus?
It is caused by a toxin produced by bacterium Clostridium tetani, which lives in the soil and water. Most people acquire it when open wounds come into contact with objects contaminated by the bacteria.
What are the signs and symptoms of tetanus?
-Symptoms appear within 5 to 10 days
-Muscle spasms in the Jaw, neck and facial muscles are usually the first signs
-worsening of muscle spasms
-difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
-irritability
-fever
-profuse sweating
-drooling
What is the diagnostic criteria for tetanus?
-usually based on the type of wound and the characteristics signs and symptoms of the disease
-Tetanus antibody tests
What are cultures of the wound site not typically used in diagnosing tetanus?
They often produce false results
What is another name for tetanus?
Lockjaw
What are the treatment options for tetanus?
-Administration of antitoxins and antibiotics
-wound cleaning
-muscle relaxants
-insertion of endotracheal tube fans mechanical breathing for patients with severe breathing difficulties
What is Torticollis?
Caused by a cervical deformity in which the heads bends towards the affected side while the chin rotates to the opposite side.
What are the causes of torticollis?
It may be acquired or congenital.
Breech births or other difficult births are the cause of the congenital form.
Underlying disease or cervical spine injury or chronic muscle spasms is the cause of the acquired form.
What are the signs and symptoms of torticollis?
Malpositioning of the neck and head in affected individuals
What is the diagnostic criteria for torticollis?
-Physical exam
-X-rays
-MRI
-CT scans
-electromyograms(EMG)
What are the treatment options for torticollis?
-for congenital form passive exercise to stretch neck muscles
-corrected head position during sleep may be helpful
-for acquired form, treatment of underlying disease otherwise
-heat,
-cervical traction
-neck brace
-exercise
-massage
-psychotherapy to deal with emotional and psychological effects of the deformity
What is trichinosis?
An infection caused by worms
What is another name for torticollis?
Wry neck
What is another name for trichinosis?
Trichinellosis
What are the causes of trichinosis?
-worms from eating undercooked meat
-worms travel from digestive tract to other body parts
What are the signs and symptoms of trichinosis?
-Abdominal pain
-Diarrhea
-Muscle pain
-Fever
-Pneumonia
-Arrhythmia
-encephalitis
-heart failure
What are the diagnostic criteria for trichinosis?
-Usually based on symptoms
-A blood test to determine if there is an increase in eosinophils in the blood
-Muscle biopsy that reveals the presence of the worms
What are the treatment options for trichinosis?
Patients with this disease are treated with medications to kill worms in the digestive tract and with anti inflammatory drugs to reduce muscle pain and swelling
