NR511 / NR 511 Midterm Exam Study Guide
Differential Diagnosis & Primary Care Practicum
Questions and Answers (Verified Answers)
1. What are common causes of N/V associated with gastritis
ANS Alcohol, NSAIDs, ASA, ABX, and illicit substances
2. What is the most common cause of nausea and vomiting
ANS Acute Gastroen- teritis (AGE)
3. What are some manifestations of AGE
ANS Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain. May also include fatigue,
malaise, anorexia, tenesmus and borborygmus.
,4. How is the severity of AGE gauged
ANS Dehydration secondary to profuse watery diarrhea, fever greater than 101ºF (38.3ºC),
vomiting, or dysentery.
5. What are important parts of a patient's history when AGE is suspected
ANS -
Travel, dining locations, ABX history..
6. What happens to the pH of the stomach when antacids are taken and how does
this affect bacteria
ANS High pH can make it easier for bacteria to survive and cause and infection.
7. How does motility of the GI tract affect bacteria colonization
ANS Small bowel stasis as a result of obstruction, diverticulitis, or blind loop syndrome
frequently develop an overgrowth of bacteria within the stagnant segment.
,8. Which immunoglobulin may protect the GI tract against invading organ- isms
ANS IgA...may also help protect against a future attack by the same pathogen.
9. Onset of N/V begin within 6 hours after exposure. Is this bacterial or viral
?-
: Bacterial: time frame suggests food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of a preformed
toxin such as that of Bacillus cereus.
10.What two indications are highly suggestive of viral AGE
ANS Incubation peri- ods greater than 14 hours and the initial symptom of vomiting.
11.If a patient presents with AGE and reports bloody stools, what can be
understood about the reason for blood in the stool/
: Mucosal damage and inflammatory process secondary to invasive pathogens.
12.What do frothy stools and flatus suggest
ANS Malabsorption problem.
, 13.Patients with prolonged AGE illness who are malnourished may present with
edema. What is the reason
ANS Hypoalbuminemia
14.T or F: Chronic diarrhea usually has a noninfectious etiology.
ANS: True
15.T or F: Acute diarrhea usually is caused by infectious agents or toxins
ANS: True
16. What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in adults
ANS -
Norovirus
17.What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in pediatrics
ANS Ro- tavirus. This has been greatly reduced since the introduction of the rotavirus
vaccine.
18.T or F: Stool studies are indicated in the absence of bloody diarrhea or
systemic disease
Differential Diagnosis & Primary Care Practicum
Questions and Answers (Verified Answers)
1. What are common causes of N/V associated with gastritis
ANS Alcohol, NSAIDs, ASA, ABX, and illicit substances
2. What is the most common cause of nausea and vomiting
ANS Acute Gastroen- teritis (AGE)
3. What are some manifestations of AGE
ANS Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain. May also include fatigue,
malaise, anorexia, tenesmus and borborygmus.
,4. How is the severity of AGE gauged
ANS Dehydration secondary to profuse watery diarrhea, fever greater than 101ºF (38.3ºC),
vomiting, or dysentery.
5. What are important parts of a patient's history when AGE is suspected
ANS -
Travel, dining locations, ABX history..
6. What happens to the pH of the stomach when antacids are taken and how does
this affect bacteria
ANS High pH can make it easier for bacteria to survive and cause and infection.
7. How does motility of the GI tract affect bacteria colonization
ANS Small bowel stasis as a result of obstruction, diverticulitis, or blind loop syndrome
frequently develop an overgrowth of bacteria within the stagnant segment.
,8. Which immunoglobulin may protect the GI tract against invading organ- isms
ANS IgA...may also help protect against a future attack by the same pathogen.
9. Onset of N/V begin within 6 hours after exposure. Is this bacterial or viral
?-
: Bacterial: time frame suggests food poisoning resulting from the ingestion of a preformed
toxin such as that of Bacillus cereus.
10.What two indications are highly suggestive of viral AGE
ANS Incubation peri- ods greater than 14 hours and the initial symptom of vomiting.
11.If a patient presents with AGE and reports bloody stools, what can be
understood about the reason for blood in the stool/
: Mucosal damage and inflammatory process secondary to invasive pathogens.
12.What do frothy stools and flatus suggest
ANS Malabsorption problem.
, 13.Patients with prolonged AGE illness who are malnourished may present with
edema. What is the reason
ANS Hypoalbuminemia
14.T or F: Chronic diarrhea usually has a noninfectious etiology.
ANS: True
15.T or F: Acute diarrhea usually is caused by infectious agents or toxins
ANS: True
16. What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in adults
ANS -
Norovirus
17.What is the most common viral pathogen causing AGE in pediatrics
ANS Ro- tavirus. This has been greatly reduced since the introduction of the rotavirus
vaccine.
18.T or F: Stool studies are indicated in the absence of bloody diarrhea or
systemic disease
