Question

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus presents to the emergency room with warm skin and pallor. The nurse observes that the patient is lethargic and has an altered level of consciousness. What seizure phase is this patient most likely experiencing?

a. Ictal phase
b. Postictal phase
c. Preictal phase
d. Interictal phase

Answer 1

The postictal phase is the likely seizure phase for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus exhibiting lethargy and altered consciousness after a seizure, as it is a period of recovery with neurological deficits.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting warm skin and pallor, along with lethargy and an altered level of consciousness, is most likely experiencing the postictal phase of a seizure. The postictal phase is the recovery period after a seizure during which a patient often experiences confusion, fatigue, and sometimes additional neurological deficits. It can vary in duration from a few minutes to several hours or even longer. Given that SLE can affect the brain and nervous system leading to seizures, these symptoms are consistent with the aftermath of a seizure event.