An individual is brought to the emergency department (ED) by some ...

[Caiter2013]

An individual is brought to the emergency department (ED) by some concerned friends, who say they think she had a stroke. Upon assessment, she complains of blurred vision, has drooping eye-lids, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing.
 
  The nurse suspects that she has _____________ and anticipates _____________. a. botulism poisoning; symmetric descending flaccid paralysis
  b. tularemia; tender, enlarged, and inflamed lymph nodes
  c. botulism poisoning; symmetric ascending flaccid paralysis
  d. been exposed to ricin; lesions on the body

Question 2

A patient is taking trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ). To help the patient avoid the side effects associated with this drug, the nurse should encourage the patient to
 
  a. take the medication with food.
  b. maintain adequate hydration.
  c. avoid the use of Tylenol.
  d. limit alcohol intake.

[nikmaaacs]

Answer to Question 1

A
The clinical manifestations are consistent with botulism poisoning, which will be further charac-terized by symmetric, descending flaccid paralysis.
The signs and symptoms are not consistent with tularemia, which is manifested by acute, flulike symptoms.
The clinical manifestations are consistent with botulism poisoning; however, the paralysis is descending, not ascending.
Manifestations of ricin exposure vary, depending on the route of exposure, but they are not con-sistent with botulism symptoms.

Answer to Question 2

B
TMP-SMZ can cause blood dyscrasias and crystalluria. To prevent this, the patient should main-tain adequate hydration.
The medication can be taken with food.
Neither Tylenol nor alcohol need be avoided by patients taking TMP-SMZ.

[Caiter2013]

Excellent

[adammoses97]

Gracias!