A six-year-old boy has become lethargic, was not eating well, and drinking copio
ID: 69531 • Letter: A
Question
A six-year-old boy has become lethargic, was not eating well, and drinking copious amounts of water. He also urinated frequently, sometimes wetting the bed while sleeping. One morning he was difficult to rouse, and his parents took him to the emergency department, where a stat glucose showed 650 mg/dL, and a strip kit for the presence of ketones was positive. Blood pH was lower than normal. The emergency room physicians immediately placed the boy on an iv drip. A. For appropriate treatment the iv should contain which compound? Explain your answer. B. The elevated blood glucose level exhibited by the boy is due, primarily, to what physiological change? C. The alteration in blood pH occurred due to what reason? D.When the boy turned 16 he was at a sleepover with some friends, and they were busy playing video games and eating pizza. The patient had taken his medication, but was so engrossed in his game that he neglected to eat any pizza. The next morning he was difficult to awaken, and his friends called 911 in panic. Why was the boy difficult to awaken, and how should the paramedics treat him when they arrive?
A. For appropriate treatment the iv should contain which compound? Explain your answer.
B. The elevated blood glucose level exhibited by the boy is due, primarily, to what physiological change?
C. The alteration in blood pH occurred due to what reason?
D. When the boy turned 16 he was at a sleepover with some friends, and they were busy playing video games and eating pizza. The patient had taken his medication, but was so engrossed in his game that he neglected to eat any pizza. The next morning he was difficult to awaken, and his friends called 911 in panic. Why was the boy difficult to awaken, and how should the paramedics treat him when they arrive?
Explanation / Answer
A. Insulin. The boy has type 1 diabetes with a lack of insulin. This makes the body break down fat to produce ketone bodies. This results in the presence of ketones in blood with a high sugar level.
B. The elevated glucose is due to the absence of insulin prodcued in the body. This leads to release of glucagon which leads to breakdown of glycogen in the liver to form glucose.
C. The alteration in ph was due to the presence of ketones.
D.The patient has taken medication to reduce the glucose levels. But since he has not eaten food, the sugar level became low. Hence, the paramedica should give him gluccose.