(^300) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Nausea and vomiting due to gastric irritation
- Diarrhea—watery, soft, may be mixed with mucous or blood
- Abdominal pain due to intestinal irritation
- Abdominal distention
- Fever due to infection
- Anorexia due to gastric irritation
- Malaise due to infection
- Headache due to viral illness
- Signs of dehydration—dry, flushed skin and mucous membranes, decreased
urine output, tachycardia, poor skin turgor, orthostatic blood pressure changes
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS
- CBC may show leukocytosis or eosinophilia (parasites).
- Electrolytes show imbalance due to GI loss.
- BUN and creatinine elevated due to dehydration.
- Stool for ova and parasites show positive with parasitic infection.
TREATMENT
- Monitor intake and output.
- Replace fluids lost.
- Administer antiemetic medication for symptom relief:
- prochlorperazine
- trimethobenzamide
- Administer antidiarrheal medications for symptom relief:
- loperamide
- diphenoxylate
- kaolin-pectin
- bismuth subsalicylate
- Need to allow organism one way out of gastrointestinal system (either anti-
emetic or antidiarrheal, not both).