A 65-year-old female presents with confusion, headache, and muscle weakness. Her sodium level is 120 mEq/L. Which of the following interventions is most appropriate based on her condition?
Administer hypertonic saline and restrict water intake
Start fluid restriction and administer a loop diuretic
Administer isotonic saline and encourage oral fluid intake
Increase oral sodium intake and administer an antiemetic
The Correct Answer is A
A. Administering hypertonic saline (3% NaCl) is appropriate for treating severe hyponatremia, as it helps to raise sodium levels safely. Restricting water intake is also necessary to prevent further dilution of sodium.
B. Fluid restriction with a loop diuretic may not be effective in this scenario and can worsen the hyponatremia by causing further fluid loss without addressing the sodium levels.
C. Isotonic saline is not indicated for correcting severe hyponatremia, and encouraging oral fluid intake could exacerbate the condition.
D. Increasing oral sodium intake is not sufficient for immediate correction of severe hyponatremia and does not address the acute nature of the client’s symptoms.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by an increased pH and increased HCO3 levels, which does not fit the provided values.
B. The low HCO3 of 18 mEq indicates a metabolic acidosis, as the body is unable to retain enough bicarbonate to balance the acid levels, and the pH is also low at 7.30, confirming acidosis.
C. Respiratory alkalosis would show a high pH and low PaCO2, which is not the case here.
D. Respiratory acidosis would be indicated by a high PaCO2 and a low pH, but the HCO3 level is low, indicating a metabolic issue rather than a respiratory one.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Pneumocystis lung infection is an opportunistic infection that typically occurs in later stages of HIV/AIDS when the immune system is significantly weakened, not during the initial phase of infection.
B. Fungal and bacterial infections are also associated with advanced HIV/AIDS due to immunosuppression and not seen in the initial phase of infection.
C. Flu-like symptoms and night sweats are common initial symptoms of HIV infection, often occurring 2-4 weeks after exposure during the acute retroviral syndrome phase.
D. Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer associated with advanced HIV/AIDS and does not manifest during the initial symptoms of infection.