Question

patient diagnosis: Diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium lab result shows: low K, Na, Ca,...

past history: essential hypertension, colon polyps, hyperlipidemia, obesity with BMI: 30.39.

Does any of the past history correlate with the current diagnoses? ( list all, if any)explain how? what body system will be your top priority to assess due to the patient's diagnoses? what complications may occur with these diagnoses?

ANS from Chegg tutor:  the topmost priority will be for the GI system followed by electrolyte management. Complications of the present condition would be hypovolemic shock and renal or cardiac failure.

My question now:

why is the GI system a priority? what will you assess for? Can you explain in detail each complication you have listed? what makes it an issue? Does any of the past medical history correlate to the primary diagnosis? if any, then explain how.

overall, can my initial questions be answered in detail? thanks.

Answer 1

Cryptosporidium infection is caused by cryptosporidium parasites. It mainly affects the small intestine. In immunocompromised persons, it may affect other parts of GI tract and respiratory system. The main symptom is profound watery diarrhea. So the patient is at risk for dehydration. The main thing to be assessed in this patient is fluid and electrolyte imbalance and for signs of dehydration. It is already given that the patient is having low electrolyte values. Therefore it has to be reassessed.

The main complications of cryptosporidium infection are:

1. malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients as it mainly affects the small intestine.
2. Severe dehydration due to watery diarrhea.
3. Malnutrition can lead to significant weight loss.
4. Inflammation of gallbladder, liver or pancreas.

Cryptosporidium infection is simply a gastroenteritis in persons except immunocompromised such as persons who have organ transplantations, HIV positive clients and so on. Other diseases like hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity. Colon polyps have actually not much relation to cryptosporidium infection. But studies have shown increased incidence of cryptosporidium infection in clients with colorectal cancer.