Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease, GERD, UTI, and Respiratory Conditions Review

What is sickle cell disease?

Inherited anemia in which RBCs form a sickle shape; affects both sexes

What is the etiology of sickle cell disease?

Genetic; autosomal recessive; inherited from both parents

What causes sickle cell disease?

Abnormal hemoglobin (hemoglobin S)

Sickle cell disease is most common in what population?

African descent; also Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian

What are signs of anemia?

Fatigue, pale skin, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, cold hands/feet, fast heart rate

What does impaired erythropoiesis cause?

Anemia

What do RBCs tell you?

Whether the patient is anemic

What do WBCs tell you?

Infection/inflammation; watch for leukemia

What is tachycardia?

Fast heart rate; over 100 bpm

What does GERD stand for?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

What happens with GERD/reflux?

The LES doesn't close, allowing acid to back up into the esophagus

What is hematemesis?

Vomiting blood

What is pepsin?

An enzyme that digests protein

What is PUD?

Lesions in the gastric lining; gastric ulcer pain occurs 30-60 minutes after eating; linked to H. pylori

What can NSAID overuse cause?

Breakdown of the stomach lining and increased risk of ulcers and bleeding

What is the medical term for stones?

Lithiasis

What are signs of diarrhea?

Dehydration, low blood pressure, high heart rate, low potassium, weakness

Which electrolyte is most affected by diarrhea?

Potassium

What is kidney function?

Filters waste and fluid, balances electrolytes, regulates blood pressure, and makes urine

What is urolithiasis?

Stones in the urinary tract/bladder

What is ureterovesical reflux?

Urine flows backward into the ureters

What is cystitis?

Bladder inflammation

What are signs of a bladder infection?

Dysuria, blood in urine, odor, urgency, and frequency

What does pyuria indicate on a lab value?

WBCs

What is the treatment for a UTI?

Antibiotics

What should patients be taught to prevent UTIs?

Hydrate, don't hold urine, practice good hygiene, wipe front to back, cranberry juice, and take showers instead of baths

What does intravesical mean?

Inside the bladder

What are the types of incontinence?

Stress, urge, overflow, functional, and mixed

What is stress incontinence?

Leaking with coughing, sneezing, or laughing

What is urge incontinence?

Sudden urge to urinate and inability to hold it

What is overflow incontinence?

The bladder doesn't fully empty, causing dribbling

What is functional incontinence?

A barrier prevents the person from reaching the toilet

What is mixed incontinence?

A combination of stress and urge incontinence

What are examples of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)?

Pneumonia, UTI, central line infections, surgical site infections, and C. diff

What is sepsis?

The body's overwhelming response to an infection that damages its own tissues and can be life threatening

What is sepsis NOT?

Sepsis is not simply bacteria in the blood; bacteria in the blood is bacteremia

What is treatment for a WBC count of 25,000?

Very high WBC count suggests serious infection/sepsis; give antibiotics and IV fluids, find and treat the source, and monitor

What is the usual bacterial agent causing pneumonia?

Bacteria, usually Streptococcus pneumoniae

What medication class is used to treat bacterial pneumonia?

Antibiotics

Who has the highest incidence of pneumonia?

Older adults and very young children

How can pneumonia be prevented in older adults?

Vaccines, no smoking, hand hygiene, deep breathing, staying active, and oral care

How can pneumonia be prevented after surgery, especially in a smoker?

Turn, cough and deep breathe, use an incentive spirometer, early ambulation, hydration, oral care, raise the head of the bed, and manage pain

What is consolidation in the lower lungs?

Fluid/pus-filled alveoli, often caused by pneumonia

What is the #1 cardiovascular disease?

Coronary heart disease

What is the major process causing CAD?

Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup)

What happens as CAD worsens?

Arteries narrow, blood flow decreases, and it can lead to angina or MI

What lifestyle factors contribute to CAD?

Inactivity, obesity, poor diet, smoking, and alcohol

What is the main cause of an MI?

Coronary artery disease/atherosclerosis

What cardiac condition needs immediate intervention?

Acute coronary syndrome

What are signs of an MI?

Chest pain/pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, radiating pain, and fatigue

What cardiac lab indicates damage?

Troponin

What are key findings of an MI?

Elevated troponin and EKG changes, such as ST elevation

What is ventilation?

Air moving in and out of the lungs

What is perfusion?

Blood flow that delivers oxygen

What is the purpose of expiration?

To remove CO2

What does a pulse oximeter measure?

Oxygen saturation in the blood

What is an extrinsic antigen?

An outside trigger, such as bacteria, foreign bodies, or allergens

What is asthma?

Chronic airway inflammation with bronchospasm, extra mucus, reversible obstruction, and airways that are hyperresponsive to triggers

Which condition needs a trigger?

Asthma

What is bronchospasm?

Airway muscles tighten and narrow

What is episodic airway obstruction?

Airway obstruction that comes and goes, like an asthma attack

What are signs of asthma?

Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough, prolonged expiration, and accessory muscle use

What are signs of difficulty breathing?

Shortness of breath, accessory muscle use, nasal flaring, tripod position, cyanosis, fast breathing, and retractions

What is obstructive lung disease?

A condition that causes air trapping and makes it difficult to exhale

What are examples of obstructive lung disease?

Asthma and COPD

What is mechanical ventilation?

A machine assists or takes over breathing

Pyelonephritis

a severe upper urinary tract infection that often starts when bacteria from an untreated bladder infection travel up into the kidneys.

Symptoms of Pyelonephritis

High fever, chills, severe back or side pain, nausea, and vomiting. Left untreated, it can cause permanent kidney damage or dangerous bloodstream infections like sepsis.