Question

A nurse is providing information to a group of clients at a local community center about tuberculosis. Which of the following clinical manifestations should be included in the teaching? Select all that apply.

a.Persistent cough
b.Weight gain
c.Fatigue
d.Night sweats
e.Purulent sputum

Answer 1

The clinical manifestations of tuberculosis that should be included in the teaching are a persistent cough, fatigue, night sweats, and purulent sputum. Weight gain is usually not associated with TB; weight loss is more common.

Step-by-step explanation:

When educating a group of clients about the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis (TB), a nurse should include the following symptoms that are associated with the disease:

• Persistent cough: Often producing mucus or in more severe cases, coughing up blood.
• Fatigue: A common symptom due to the body's immune response to the infection.
• Night sweats: Excessive sweating during the night can be a sign of TB.
• Purulent sputum: The presence of pus in the sputum can indicate a bacterial infection such as TB.

These symptoms were observed in the case studies presented, where individuals were suspected to have TB or exhibited signs associated with the disease. Weight gain is not typically a symptom of TB; in fact, unexplained weight loss is more characteristic of the condition.