- Describe diagnostic criteria for nausea and vomiting and treatment recommendations
- Discuss symptoms of GERD complications and drug management
- Compare and contrast Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis
- Discuss Diabetes, its causes, symptoms, and treatment Submission Instructions:
- Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in the current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources within the past 5 yrs.
- Each question must be answered individually as in bullet points.
course textbook Arcangelo, P. V., Peterson, M. A., Wilbur, V., & Reinhold, A. J. (2017)
Describe Diagnostic Criteria for Nausea and Vomiting and Treatment Recommendations
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms with various underlying causes, ranging from gastrointestinal disorders to systemic illnesses. The diagnostic criteria for nausea and vomiting involve a comprehensive assessment that includes patient history, physical examination, and, if necessary, laboratory and imaging tests.
Diagnostic Criteria:
- Persistent or recurrent nausea and vomiting without an apparent cause.
- Evaluation of accompanying symptoms such as dehydration, weight loss, or abdominal pain.
- Consideration of potential triggers, including medications, infections, pregnancy, or metabolic disorders.
- Laboratory tests (electrolytes, liver function tests, and renal function) to rule out systemic causes.
- Imaging studies such as abdominal ultrasound or endoscopy for persistent cases.
Treatment Recommendations:
- Non-Pharmacologic: Hydration, dietary modifications (small, frequent meals), and avoiding triggers.
- Pharmacologic:
- Antiemetics (e.g., ondansetron, promethazine, metoclopramide)
- Antihistamines (e.g., meclizine for motion sickness)
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for nausea associated with GERD
- Supportive Care: IV fluids for severe dehydration.
Discuss Symptoms of GERD, Complications, and Drug Management
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive condition caused by the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus, leading to irritation and discomfort.
Symptoms:
- Heartburn (burning sensation in the chest)
- Regurgitation of acid or food
- Chronic cough, hoarseness, or sore throat
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Chest pain resembling cardiac pain
Complications:
- Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
- Barrett’s esophagus (precancerous changes in the esophageal lining)
- Esophageal stricture (narrowing due to scar tissue)
- Increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma
Drug Management:
- Antacids: Immediate symptom relief (e.g., calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide)
- H2-receptor antagonists: Reduce acid production (e.g., ranitidine, famotidine)
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Most effective for healing esophagitis (e.g., omeprazole, pantoprazole)
- Prokinetics: Improve gastric emptying (e.g., metoclopramide)
Compare and Contrast Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with overlapping but distinct characteristics.
| Feature | Crohn’s Disease | Ulcerative Colitis |
|---|---|---|
| Affected Area | Any part of the GI tract (mouth to anus) | Limited to the colon and rectum |
| Depth of Inflammation | Transmural (affects entire bowel wall) | Mucosal and submucosal layers only |
| Pattern of Inflammation | Skip lesions (patchy) | Continuous inflammation |
| Symptoms | Abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fistulas | Bloody diarrhea, urgency, abdominal cramping |
| Complications | Fistulas, strictures, malabsorption | Toxic megacolon, colon cancer |
| Treatment | Corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, biologics | Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators |
Discuss Diabetes: Its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia due to impaired insulin secretion, action, or both.
Causes:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, leading to absolute insulin deficiency.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, often linked to obesity and genetics.
- Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.
Symptoms:
- Polyuria (frequent urination)
- Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
- Polyphagia (excessive hunger)
- Fatigue, weight loss (Type 1), blurred vision
- Slow wound healing, recurrent infections (Type 2)
Treatment:
- Lifestyle Modifications: Diet (low glycemic index foods), exercise, weight management
- Pharmacologic:
- Type 1: Insulin therapy (short-acting, long-acting)
- Type 2: Oral antidiabetic agents (metformin, sulfonylureas, DPP-4 inhibitors), injectable GLP-1 agonists, or insulin if needed
- Monitoring: Regular blood glucose checks, HbA1c monitoring
- Complication Prevention: Blood pressure and lipid control, foot care, retinopathy screening
References
Arcangelo, P. V., Peterson, M. A., Wilbur, V., & Reinhold, A. J. (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). F.A. Davis.
(Include at least one more scholarly source from the past five years.)