Reference no: EM132158062
Upon further evaluation on the second day why would the child present an increased pulse and respiratory rate but decreased blood pressure?
The next morning Jenny opened the clinic to find the mother, and not just the child she had seen the previous day, but three more of the woman's children. All of the children were exhibiting similar symptoms that now included muscle cramping and excessive thirst in addition to diarrhea and vomiting. When checking the vital signs of the children, Jenny noticed increases in both the pulse and respiratory rates accompanied by decreased blood pressures. Uncertain as to the appropriate course of action, Jenny contacted the physician by radio. Upon conveying the histories and information to the physician, Jenny received instructions to keep the children at the clinic, start intravenous (IV) infusion with lactated Ringer's solution, and allow the children to drink as much of the electrolyte solution with glucose as they would like. The physician also gave Jenny a list of laboratory tests to run on the blood, urine and stool samples that she should collect. Jenny started the IV infusions and gave each child some of the electrolyte solution. After this, she obtained stool, blood and urine samples from each child and asked the mother to leave the children with her for care and observation. The mother agreed and said she would return later that night to help with the children.
The results of the tests run indicated severe metabolic acidosis, an increased hematocrit, hypokalemia, and the presence of Vibrio cholerae bacteria in the stool samples. Based on the results of these tests, the physician and Jenny diagnosed the children with cholera and obtained a more detailed history in an attempt to determine whether these individuals were the only ones exposed or whether these cases were the first of a possible epidemic. Jenny and the physician found that the family had recently visited relatives in a distant village where similar symptoms had been present in a number of families that had all celebrated a recent shellfish harvest.
The physician prescribed continued IV infusions with lactated Ringer's solution and electrolyte fluid replacement by mouth. The children were not allowed to consume other foods or drinks, especially coffee or any other beverages containing caffeine. The children were also told that once the vomiting stopped they could start consuming solid foods. The children were all treated with antibiotics and stool samples were taken from other family members to determine whether or not they were infected with Vibrio cholerae. Infected, asymptomatic individuals were treated with antibiotics. The physician later explained to Jenny that caffeine was prohibited because the toxin produced by the bacteria (termed choleragen) binds to the surface of the epithelial cells of the small intestine and activates adenylate cyclase. In addition, the toxin interferes with the active transport of sodium ions in the intestinal lumen.