Question

The nurse is assessing a client who recently had an upper respiratory infection and now presents to the emergency department with lower extremity numbness and difficulty swallowing. Based on these findings, this client is at greater risk for which pathophysiological condition?

Answer 1

The client is at greater risk for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), an autoimmune disorder that causes muscle weakness and paralysis. Treatment involves supportive care and modulation of the immune response.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the symptoms described, the client who recently had an upper respiratory infection and now presents with lower extremity numbness and difficulty swallowing is at greater risk for a neurological condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). GBS is an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness and paralysis.

The lower extremity numbness and difficulty swallowing are symptoms commonly seen in GBS. The infection may have triggered an immune response that led to the development of GBS.

Treatment for GBS typically involves supportive care, including pain management, physical therapy, and possibly the use of intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange to modulate the immune response.