Author Question: A 22-year-old student has developed a fever and diarrhea while on a backpacking trip in Southeast ... (Read 79 times)

urbanoutfitters · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A 22-year-old student has developed a fever and diarrhea while on a backpacking trip in Southeast Asia. His oral temperature is 101.4 F.

The diarrhea is bloody, frequent, and small in volume. These clinical manifestations are sufficiently distressing that he is visiting a local medical clinic in the area. Which of the following diagnoses best characterizes this health problem?
A)
Noninflammatory diarrhea
B)
Inflammatory diarrhea
C)
Factitious diarrhea
D)
Secretory diarrhea

Question 2

A 38-year-old male has presented to a clinic for the treatment of severe dermatitis after contact with poison ivy on a camping trip. The client has been prescribed prednisone, a corticosteroid, for the treatment of his skin condition.

The client's care provider has emphasized that dosages of the drug will be gradually tapered off rather than stopped upon resolution of the symptoms. What is the most accurate rationale for this dosing protocol?
A)
The client's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system will require recovery time before normal function is restored.
B)
Steroids can induce a dependency that it best addressed with a gradual withdrawal.
C)
HPA function is heightened during steroid administration and must return to normal levels before the drug is completely stopped.
D)
Abrupt cessation of the drug can contribute to symptoms similar to Cushing syndrome.

jharrington11 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Ans:
B

Feedback:

Inflammatory diarrhea is often characterized by small-volume diarrhea that is bloody and accompanied by a fever. Noninflammatory diarrhea is normally larger in volume and not bloody. Factitious diarrhea is normally attributable to laxative use, and secretory diarrhea is associated with increased secretory processes of the bowel; neither is likely to produce bloody stool.

Answer to Question 2

Ans:
A

Feedback:

The suppression of the HPA system that accompanies steroid therapy requires time for a return to normal function. Dependency on the drug itself is not the rationale for tapering, and HPA function is suppressed, not heightened during therapy. Abrupt cessation can contribute to an Addison disease-like response, not Cushing syndrome.