Which of the following are symptoms of alcohol withdrawal? Select all that apply.
tremors
pinpoint pupils
diaphoresis
dilated pupils
warm, dry skin
Correct Answer : A,C,D
Rationale:
A. Tremors are one of the most common early signs of alcohol withdrawal, typically appearing 6–12 hours after the last alcohol intake. They often start as mild, fine hand shakes but can progress to severe, generalized tremors. Tremors result from hyperactivity of the central nervous system after the depressant effects of alcohol wear off, reflecting neuronal excitability.
B. Pinpoint pupils are not a symptom of alcohol withdrawal. They are usually associated with opioid intoxication or overdose. In alcohol withdrawal, pupil changes tend to reflect autonomic hyperactivity, not constriction.
C. Diaphoresis (excessive sweating) occurs due to sympathetic nervous system overactivation during alcohol withdrawal. It may be accompanied by tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, and hyperthermia, and is an important indicator of autonomic instability, which can progress to delirium tremens if untreated.
D. Dilated pupils can also be present due to sympathetic overdrive. While not as specific as tremors or diaphoresis, they reflect increased adrenergic activity associated with withdrawal. Other signs of autonomic hyperactivity may include increased heart rate, hypertension, and restlessness.
E. Warm, dry skin is not characteristic of alcohol withdrawal. Instead, patients usually exhibit cool, clammy, or moist skin due to sweating and fluid loss, reflecting heightened sympathetic tone.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Contracting a gastrointestinal illness does not alter a person’s DNA. Immunity develops through the adaptive immune system, not genetic changes.
B. After recovery, the immune system produces antibodies and memory cells specific to the pathogen, providing adaptive immunity. This reduces the risk or severity of reinfection if exposed again, which is a hallmark of the immune response following an epidemic infection.
C. This is generally not true for all pathogens. While some individuals may become asymptomatic carriers (e.g., typhoid), most people who recover from a gastrointestinal illness clear the infection and do not continue to transmit the pathogen.
D. Symbiosis implies a mutually beneficial relationship, which does not apply to pathogens causing gastrointestinal illness. The pathogen is parasitic, not symbiotic, and is eventually cleared by the host’s immune system.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. This formula describes infant mortality rate, which is calculated as the number of deaths of children under 1 year of age in a given year divided by the number of live births in the same year, often expressed per 1,000 live births. It is not used to calculate illness incidence.
B. This formula resembles prevalence, which measures the total number of existing cases (new and pre-existing) of a disease in a population at a specific time, divided by the total population, often expressed per 1,000 or 100,000. Prevalence reflects how widespread a disease is, not how often it occurs.
C. Incidence rate is correct. It measures the number of new cases of a disease occurring in a specified period divided by the population at risk during that period, usually expressed per 1,000 or 100,000. Incidence indicates the risk or probability of developing the disease over a defined time frame, making it essential for tracking outbreaks, emerging infections, and evaluating preventive interventions.
D. This formula represents crude mortality rate, which calculates the number of deaths in a population during a specific period divided by the total population, expressed per 1,000 or 100,000. It does not measure new disease occurrence.
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