Patient’s Health Assessment Essay

Introduction

A presumptive nursing diagnosis is at the center of nursing interventions; therefore, it is of utter importance to learn the process of analyzing diagnostic clues and symptoms (Herdman & Kamitsure, 2014). This paper aims to present three differential diagnoses for a patient who presents with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Diagnoses

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is the first differential diagnosis for Judy. Regardless of the origin of gastroenteritis, its symptoms include, but are not limited to, persistent watery diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fatigue (Barrett & Fhoogartaigh, 2017). The woman’s symptoms are consistent with the disease. It can be argued that the patient’s complaint of weakness is a prodrome of the disease. The patient is hypotensive and tachycardiac, which are common symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis since the condition is associated with dehydration (Barrett & Fhoogartaigh, 2017).Patient’s Health Assessment Essay

As for pathophysiology, the disease is conditioned by either “non-inflammatory infection in the upper small bowel of inflammatory infection in the colon” (Barrett & Fhoogartaigh, 2017, p. 683). Pathogens causing gastroenteritis to fall into three categories: bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Even though an infective agent is not always identified, a vast majority of diarrheal episodes are of a bacterial origin (Fhoogartaigh & Dance, 2013). To rule in the diagnosis, it is necessary to inquire about the patient about recent changes in her geographic locale. It has to do with the fact that foreign travel is associated with a heightened risk of important pathogens causing bacterial gastroenteritis (Humphries & Linscott, 2015). In addition, Judy should be asked about the recent consumption of seafood. There is a large body of empirical studies making a connection between seafood products and bacterial infections (Humphries & Linscott, 2015). Abdominal tenderness, sepsis, and sunken eyes are the components of the physical exam that can help to confirm the diagnosis. It has to do with the fact that the invasion of the intestinal mucosa and the production of a toxin by a pathogen leads to abdominal pains and severe dehydration (Fhoogartaigh & Dance, 2013). Patient’s Health Assessment Essay

It is expected that the patient has a recent history of antibiotic use. By virtue of reducing normal intestinal flora, antibiotics increase the risk of the disease. In addition to foreign travel, close contact with animals can also serve as a transmission channel for some bacterial agents associated with gastroenteritis (Barrett & Fhoogartaigh, 2017). The following diagnostic studies are recommended: stool studies, WBC count, and stool microscopy (Humphries & Linscott, 2015).Patient’s Health Assessment Essay