Which of the following is key sign that a patient has developed chronic pancreatitis?
blood sugar issues
diarrhea
irreversible damage
malabsorption
respiratory distress
The Correct Answer is C
A. Blood sugar issues: Chronic pancreatitis can lead to impaired insulin production, resulting in hyperglycemia or diabetes. While this is a common complication, it is a consequence of pancreatic damage rather than a defining feature of the disease.
B. Diarrhea: Diarrhea may occur due to fat malabsorption from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. It is a symptom but not the key indicator that distinguishes chronic pancreatitis from acute forms.
C. Irreversible damage: The hallmark of chronic pancreatitis is irreversible structural and functional damage to the pancreas. Fibrosis, calcification, and permanent loss of exocrine and endocrine function define the chronic nature of the condition and differentiate it from acute pancreatitis.
D. Malabsorption: Malabsorption occurs due to decreased pancreatic enzyme secretion and can lead to steatorrhea and nutrient deficiencies. While significant, it reflects the consequences of chronic damage rather than the defining characteristic itself.
E. Respiratory distress: This is actually a classic complication of acute pancreatitis. In severe acute cases, systemic inflammation can lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). While chronic patients can have lung issues, respiratory distress is not a hallmark or "key sign" for diagnosing the chronic form of the disease.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. It is a precursor to Hepatitis D: Hepatitis D requires the presence of hepatitis B virus to replicate and does not develop from hepatitis A infection. Hepatitis A is a distinct virus with a different transmission route and disease course. There is no virologic relationship in which hepatitis A leads to hepatitis D.
B. It is transmitted through infected blood and body fluids: This mode of transmission is characteristic of bloodborne pathogens like Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, which are spread through needle sticks, sexual contact, or mother-to-child transmission. Hepatitis A is not typically spread through parenteral exposure.
C. It is transmitted through the fecal oral route: Hepatitis A is primarily spread through ingestion of contaminated food or water or close personal contact. Poor sanitation and inadequate hand hygiene increase the risk of transmission. This route explains outbreaks associated with travel and food handling.
D. It frequently leads to chronic hepatitis: Hepatitis A causes an acute, self-limiting illness and does not progress to chronic hepatitis. Most clients recover completely with lifelong immunity. Chronic liver disease is not a typical outcome of hepatitis A infection.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Weight loss–muscle wasting: Muscle wasting can occur in Cushing’s disease due to protein catabolism, but it is usually accompanied by weight gain rather than weight loss. Clients typically experience redistribution of fat rather than overall loss of body mass. Weight loss is more characteristic of conditions such as Addison’s disease or hyperthyroidism.
B. Truncal obesity–moon face: Excess cortisol leads to abnormal fat redistribution, resulting in central (truncal) obesity and a rounded “moon face.” These are classic physical assessment findings in clients with Cushing’s disease. The pattern reflects prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels.
C. Pallor–swollen tongue: Pallor and a swollen tongue are more suggestive of anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency. These findings are not associated with the hormonal and metabolic effects of excess cortisol. They do not reflect the typical physical changes seen in Cushing’s disease.
D. Depigmented skin–eyelid lag: Depigmented skin is commonly associated with autoimmune conditions, while eyelid lag is a hallmark of hyperthyroidism. These findings are unrelated to cortisol excess and do not align with the expected assessment findings in Cushing’s disease.
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