Author Question: Several patients are admitted after being exposed to a substance that was released in their ... (Read 148 times)

mikaylakyoung · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

Several patients are admitted after being exposed to a substance that was released in their manufacturing plant. The patients are demonstrating flu-like symptoms, unproductive cough, and fever. These patients should be assessed for which type of exposure?

1. anthrax
2. smallpox
3. dirty bomb
4. nuclear detonation

Question 2

The nurse is caring for patients when a dirty bomb detonates at a nearby shopping mall. Which types of injuries should the nurse expect to see in the victims?

1. radiation sickness
2. fractured limbs and spinal injury
3. thermal burns
4. overexertion and exhaustion

dajones82 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1

Inhalation anthrax carries the highest mortality rate among biologic weapons. The patient initially exhibits influenza-like symptoms such as fever, nonproductive cough, headache, and malaise that advance to respiratory distress, mediastinal widening, and hemodynamic collapse in 3 to 5 days. Death may occur shortly thereafter. Untreated patients die in 2 to 3 days. Smallpox spreads by direct contact or by inhalation of respiratory droplets. Symptoms include a high fever, headache, and malaise, followed by a vesicular/pustular rash appearing simultaneously on the face and extremities. A dirty bomb causes radiation sickness. Nuclear detonation causes thermal burns.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1

Radiation sickness commonly occurs with a radiological dispersion bomb or dirty bomb blast. Fractured limbs and spinal injury can occur with blunt trauma. Thermal burns occur with nuclear detonation. Overexertion and exhaustion occur in other types of injuries, such as snowstorm-related injuries.