Clinical manifestations of gastroenteritis and possible renal injury.

Mr. J.R. is a 73-year-old man, who was admitted to the hospital with clinical manifestations of gastroenteritis and possible renal injury. The patient’s chief complaints are fever, nausea with vomiting and diarrhea for 48 hours, weakness, dizziness, and a bothersome metallic taste in the mouth. The patient is pale and sweaty. He had been well until two days ago, when he began to experience severe nausea several hours after eating two burritos for supper. The burritos had been ordered from a local fast-food restaurant. The nausea persisted and he vomited twice with some relief. As the evening progressed, he continued to feel “very bad” and took some Pepto-Bismol to help settle his stomach. Soon thereafter, he began to feel achy and warm. His temperature at the time was 100. 5°F. He has continued to experience nausea, vomiting, and a fever. He has not been able to tolerate any solid foods or liquids. Since yesterday, he has had 5–6 watery bowel movements. He has not noticed any blood in the stools. His wife brought him to the ER because he was becoming weak and dizzy when he tried to stand up. His wife denies any recent travel, use of antibiotics, laxatives, or excessive caffeine, or that her husband has an eating disorder.
Case Study Questions

The attending physician is thinking that Mr. J.R. has developed an Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Analyzing the case presented name the possible types of Acute Kidney Injury. Link the clinical manifestations described to the different types of Acute Kidney injury.
Create a list of risk factors the patient might have and explain why.
Unfortunately, the damage on J.R. kidney became irreversible and he is now diagnosed with Chronic kidney disease. Please describe the complications that the patient might have on his Hematologic system (Coagulopathy and Anemia) and the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved.
Reproductive Function:
Ms. P.C. is a 19-year-old white female who reports a 2-day history of lower abdominal pain, nausea, emesis and a heavy, malodorous vaginal discharge. She states that she is single, heterosexual, and that she has been sexually active with only one partner for the past eight months. She has no previous history of genitourinary infections or sexually transmitted diseases. She denies IV drug use. Her LMP ended three days ago. Her last intercourse (vaginal) was eight days ago and she states that they did not use a condom. She admits to unprotected sex “every once in a while.” She noted an abnormal vaginal discharge yesterday and she describes it as “thick, greenish-yellow in color, and very smelly.” She denies both oral and rectal intercourse. She does not know if her partner has had a recent genitourinary tract infection, “because he has been away on business for five days.
Microscopic Examination of Vaginal Discharge
(-) yeast or hyphae
(-) flagellated microbes
(+) white blood cells
(+) gram-negative intracellular diplococci
Case Study Questions

According to the case presented, including the clinical manifestations and microscopic examination of the vaginal discharge, what is the most probably diagnosis for Ms. P.C.? Support your answer and explain why you get to that diagnosis.
Based on the vaginal discharged described and the microscopic examination of the sample could you suggest which would be the microorganism involved?
Name the criteria you would use to recommend hospitalization for this patient

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Sample Answer

 

 

Mr. J.R.’s Case (Acute Kidney Injury)

Possible Types of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI):

  • Prerenal AKI: This occurs when decreased blood flow to the kidneys reduces their function. Mr. J.R.’s potential dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea could contribute to this.
  • Intrinsic AKI: This involves direct damage to the kidneys themselves. The toxins from gastroenteritis could potentially damage the kidney tissue.
  • Postrenal AKI: This is caused by a blockage in the urinary tract that prevents urine from flowing out of the kidneys. While less likely based on the information provided, it’s still a possibility to consider and rule out.

Full Answer Section

 

 

Linking Clinical Manifestations to AKI Types:

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea: These symptoms can lead to dehydration, potentially causing prerenal AKI.
  • Fever: This can be a sign of infection, which could worsen kidney function.
  • Weakness, dizziness: These can be caused by electrolyte imbalances due to AKI.
  • Metallic taste: This can be a symptom of uremia, a buildup of waste products in the blood due to impaired kidney function.

Risk Factors for Mr. J.R.:

  • Age: People over 65 are at higher risk for AKI.
  • Dehydration: Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, a major risk factor for AKI.
  • Possible underlying medical conditions: The case study doesn’t mention any pre-existing conditions, but some conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure can increase AKI risk.

Chronic Kidney Disease Complications:

Hematologic System:

  • Coagulopathy: Damaged kidneys might not produce enough erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. This can lead to anemia and an increased risk of bleeding due to a lack of clotting factors also produced by the kidneys.
  • Anemia: Reduced EPO production leads to decreased red blood cell production, causing fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.

Pathophysiology:

  • EPO deficiency: Kidneys don’t produce enough EPO, leading to decreased red blood cell production.
  • Impaired platelet function: Kidneys don’t produce enough factors needed for proper blood clotting.

Ms. P.C.’s Case (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease)

Diagnosis: Based on the symptoms and vaginal discharge characteristics, Ms. P.C. most likely has Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).

  • Symptoms: Lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, abnormal vaginal discharge.
  • Microscopic examination: White blood cells (inflammation), gram-negative intracellular diplococci (suggestive of bacteria like Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis, common causes of PID).

Microorganism: The gram-negative intracellular diplococci point towards bacteria like Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis, both sexually transmitted infections (STIs) known to cause PID.

Hospitalization Criteria:

  • Severity of symptoms: If Ms. P.C. experiences severe pain, high fever, or signs of peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining), hospitalization might be necessary for intravenous antibiotics and pain management.
  • Treatment response: If she doesn’t respond well to oral antibiotics within 48 hours, hospitalization might be needed for more aggressive treatment.
  • Risk factors: If Ms. P.C. has risk factors for complications like tubal blockage or ectopic pregnancy, hospitalization might be recommended for closer monitoring.

Disclaimer: I am unable to provide medical diagnosis or treatment advice. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

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