NSG6420 Quiz 2

NSG6420 QUIZ 2 Questions and answers 1 Question : An 86-year-old patient who wears a hearing aid complains of poor . hearing in the affected ear. In addition to possible hearing aid malfunction, this condition is often due to: Student Answer: Acoustic neuroma Cerumen impaction Otitis media Ménière’s disease Instructor Explanation: Elderly clients frequently present with complaints of hardened cerumen and decreased hearing resulting from cerumen impaction aggravated by hearing aid wear. (Goolsby 137-138) Conductive hearing loss is caused by a lesion involving the outer and middle ear to the level of the oval window. Various structural abnormalities, cerumen impaction, perforation of the tympanic membrane, middle ear fluid, damage to the ossicles from trauma or infection, otosclerosis, tympanosclerosis, cholesteatoma, middle ear tumors, temporal bone fractures, injuries related to trauma, and congenital problems are some of the causes. (Kennedy-Malone 170-171) Question 2. Question : In examination of the nose, the clinician observes gray, pale mucous membranes with clear, serous discharge. This is most likely indicative of: Student Answer: Bacterial sinusitis Allergic rhinitis Drug abuse Skull fracture Instructor Explanation: When examining the nose, assess the mucosa for integrity, color, moistness, and edema/lesions and the nasal septum for patency. The turbinates should be assessed for color and size. Pale, boggy turbinates suggest allergies; erythematous, swollen turbinates are often seen with infection. Any discharge should be noted. Clear, profuse discharge is often associated with allergies. (Goolsby 128-129) Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis report rhinorrhea, sneezing, obstructed nasal passages, and pruritic eyes, nose, and oropharynx during the spring and fall. Patients with perennial allergic rhinitis have similar symptoms associated with exposure to environmental allergens typically in their homes. Physical examination may reveal a pale, boggy nasal mucosa, injected conjunctiva, enlarged turbinates, dark discoloration or bags under the eyes, and mouth breathing; absence of pale, boggy nasal mucosa does not rule out allergic rhinitis. (Kennedy-Malone 182-183) Question 3. Question : A 45 year old patient presents with ‘sore throat’ and fever for one week. After a quick strep screen you determine the patient has Strep throat. You know that streptococcal pharyngitis should be treated with antibiotics to prevent complications and to shorten the course of disease. Which of the following antibiotics should be considered when a patient is allergic to Penicillin? Student Answer: Instructor Explanation: Amoxicillin EES (erythromycin) Bicillin L-A Dicloxacillin MedU Card #1 Question 4. Question : Presbycusis is the hearing impairment that is associated with: Student Answer: Physiologic aging Ménière’s disease Cerumen impaction Herpes zoster Instructor Explanation: Presbycusis is an age-related cause of gradual sensorineural hearing loss and involves diminished hairy cell function within the cochlea as well as decreased elasticity of the TM. Although the changes associated with presbycusis often start in early adulthood, the decreased hearing acuity is usually not noticed until the individual is older than 65. (Goolsby 138) Because presbycusis is gradual and insidious, hearing loss may go unnoticed until it has progressed significantly. (Kennedy-Malone 170) Question 5. Question : Epistaxis can be a symptom of: Student Answer: Over-anticoagulation Hematologic malignancy Cocaine abuse All of the above Instructor Explanation: Cocaine abuse, which is more common than might be expected, frequently causes epistaxis. Hematologic disorders likely to cause bleeding include thrombocytopenia, leukemia, aplastic anemia, and hereditary coagulopathies. High doses of anticoagulants can cause epistaxis and bleeding from the gums. (Goolsby 142) Epistaxis results from a spontaneous rupture of a blood vessel in the nose, usually in the anterior septum in Kiesselbach's plexus (Nguyen, 2012). The bleeding may be secondary to local infections, systemic infections, drying of the nasal mucous membrane, trauma, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, or bleeding disorders. Trauma is usually the primary mechanism of disruption of the nasal mucosa. Posterior epistaxis can result in nausea and respiratory compromise. In older adults, nasal and paranasal tumors may be involved (Mäkitie, 2010). (Kennedy-Malone 168-169) Question 6. Question : Your patient has been using chewing tobacco for 10 years. On physical examination, you observe a white ulceration surrounded by erythematous base on the side of his tongue. The clinician should recognize that very often this is: Student Answer: Malignant melanoma Squamous cell carcinoma Instructor Explanation: Aphthous ulceration Behcet’s syndrome Most oral malignancies are painless until quite advanced, so patients are often unaware of the lesion unless the lip or anterior portion of the tongue is involved. The patient may become aware of the lesion if it bleeds. Squamous cell cancer lesions vary in appearance, from the reddened patches of erythroplakia to areas of induration/thickening, ulceration, or necrotic lesions. Lesions of malignant melanoma have varied pigmentation, including brown, blue, and black. Even lesions that appear flat and smooth may be nodular, indurated, or fixed to adjacent tissue on palpation. Even though patients with squamous cell malignancies often have a history of heavy alcohol and/or tobacco use or poor dentition, these are not risk factors for malignant melanoma. In Behcet’s syndrome, the patient complains of recurrent episodes of oral lesions that are consistent with aphthous ulcers. The number of lesions ranges from one to several; the size of the ulcers varies from less than to greater than 1 cm. Like aphthous ulcers, the lesions are well defined, with a pale yellow or gray base surrounded by erythema. The majority of patients also develop lesions on the genitals and eyes. (Goolsby 153) Tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption, alone or synergistically, are strongly related to the development of oral cancer. Pipe smoking and sun exposure have been implicated in lip cancer. Leukoplakia and erythroplasia are often precursors to oral cancer. Relationships between oral cancer and Epstein-Barr virus, HPV, herpes simplex virus, and immunodeficiency states also have been found (Stenson, 2011). (Kennedy-Malone 177). Question 7. Question : A 26 year old patient presents with cough and general malaise for 3 days. They note that their eyes have been watering clear fluid and a ‘runny nose’ since yesterday. They note they ‘feel miserable’ and demand something to make them feel better. What would be the best first plan of treatment? Student Answer: Instructor Explanation: Saline nasal spray for congestion and acetaminophen as needed for pain. Z-pack (azithromycin) for infection and Cromolyn nasal for congestion Hydrococone/acetaminophen as needed for pain and Guaifensin for congestion Cephalexin for infection and Cromolyn ophthalmic for congestion MedU Card #4 Question 8. Question : Which of the following findings should trigger an urgent referral to a cardiologist or neurologist? Student Answer: vision History of bright flash of light followed by significantly blurred History of transient and painless monocular loss of vision History of monocular severe eye pain, blurred vision, and Instructor Explanation: ciliary flush All of the above Amaurosis fugax is a monocular, transient loss of vision. It stems from transient ischemia of the retina and presents an important warning sign for impending stroke. Depending on the circumstances reported, the patient should be immediately referred to either a cardiovascular or neurological specialist. (Goolsby 108)