VizD Challenge Week of 3/3/08
A thin 25-year-old woman presents to your ED for generalized weakness. You do not find anything remarkable on your physical exam except the finding seen below.
(click on image to enlarge)
Questions:
1. What diagnosis do you suspect?
2. Which electrolyte is frequently abnormal in this condition and likely the cause of this patient's weakness?
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13 comments:
1. Patient is bulemic
2. Hypokalemia
bulimia nervosa
hyponatremia
1. Bulimia Nervosa
2. Hypokalemia is causing the weakness.
seems red. with fatigue...
leukemia?
Ah, bulimia. I'd look for a low potassium. And then I'd go out for a cheeseburger and fries.
Calcium?
Calcium?
To answer the first question further. If the person has periodontal disease it could be a predictor of either heart disease or diabetes. In the case of heart disease, they could have inadequate calcium (if they were taking calcium channel blockers this could cause their gums to grow over their teeth). In the case of diabetes, they may have hypernatremia (Na+ loss), which is followed by water loss. As a result of prolonged dehydration, they may have decreased salivary secretion which can increase plaque buildup and this causes periodontal disease. So I'm gonna go for the later, but everyone knows periodontal disease is an indicator of heart disease.
a. Eating disorder with vomitin (bulimia) b. Low potassium
My guess is Bulemia and the elctrolyte would be low potassium.
I guess you can tell I am a former dental assistant by the two questions I've answered, now in nursing school.
Love the blog.
Dawn
1. Celiac disease
2. Calcium
1. anorexia nervosa
2. potassium
Bulimia. Self induced emesis. Potassium would be low possibly leading to hear arrythmias.
Steve
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