Final answer:
The young woman with hypokalemic alkalosis, enlarged parotids, hypotension, and Russell's sign is likely suffering from Bulimia. This condition can lead to metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte imbalances due to repeated vomiting and loss of stomach acids and potassium.
Step-by-step explanation:
A 20-year-old woman presenting with hypokalemic alkalosis, enlarged parotids, hypotension, and Russell's sign likely has a diagnosis of Bulimia. Hypokalemic alkalosis, a condition where there is a high blood pH and low potassium, often results from prolonged, severe vomiting as seen in eating disorders like bulimia. Russell's sign—calluses or scars on the knuckles—is indicative of self-induced vomiting. Additionally, the symptoms of enlarged parotids are likely due to recurrent vomiting, and hypotension may result from dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
In a related case study, Kim is a patient with bulimia whose lab results indicated pH 7.48 (indicating alkalosis), pCO2 in the normal range, and total HCO3 higher than normal. This reflects metabolic alkalosis, which can occur in bulimia from the loss of hydrochloric acid through vomiting. While the normal pCO2 suggests that there isn't respiratory compensation, careful monitoring would be necessary to fully evaluate the body's compensatory mechanisms.
Overall, bulimia can contribute to hypokalemic alkalosis due to the excessive loss of stomach acids and potassium through vomiting.