N213: Health Differences Across the Life Span 3

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide ©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 65 of 204 Demonstrates tolerance of increased activity levels • Verbalizes relief of pain and inflammation • Verbalizes understanding of disease, areas to avoid, and prevention of tick bites • Demonstrates medication and treatment compliance • Demonstrates follow-up care with physician Encephalitis When the brain is inflamed it is known as encephalitis. It can be caused by many different things. One thing that causes encephalitis is mosquito-borne illness. The main cause is West Nile Virus, which causes swelling in the brain (cerebral edema), nerve cell destruction, and the degeneration of the brain’s cells. The brain damage can be permanent and even deadly. In fact, there is an extremely high mortality rate with this disease. Signs and symptoms of encephalitis: • Headache • Nausea • Vomiting • Cough • Seizures • Coma • Fever • Altered mental status • Restlessness • Photophobia/nuchal rigidity (meningitis) Nursing assessment for encephalitis: • Head to toe general assessment o Check temperature o Neurological assessment: level of consciousness, seizure activity, and photophobia o Blood pressure o Check pulse and respirations • Inquire about exposure: standing water, camping, and exposure tohorses • Review laboratory and radiology reports o CT and/or MRI scans of the head and brain to check for inflammation andswelling o Blood cultures o Lumbar puncture: cells and evidence of protein andpressures o CBC with differential o Blood chemistries o EEG for brain activity if patient is unresponsive Expected outcomes for Lyme disease: •