g Label the bottle.
U
U
h Discard the used needle and syringe.
U
U
i
U
U
3 Reassure the patient.
U
U
4 Transport the patient to a hospital immediately.
U
U
5 Begin an intravenous infusion (IV) lifeline of dextrose in water
U
U
solution (D5W).
Section II. CHRONIC BRONCHITIS
4-5.
DEFINITION/CHARACTERISTICS
Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi of long duration. There is a
productive cough associated with recurring infections of the lower respiratory tract. The
result is a reduced ability to ventilate (breathe in and out) the lungs. A characteristic is
an excessive, recurrent, mucus-producing cough. The patient is usually a heavy
cigarette smoker who is obese. The soft tissues around the patient's fingers and toes
may have undergone changes, but not the bone structure.
4-6.
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS
As the disease becomes more severe, the following signs/symptoms may be
noticed in the patient.
a. Rales (a dry or moist sound according to the absence or presence of fluids in
the air passages).
b. Rhonchi (a dry, coarse sound in the bronchial tubes due to a partial
obstruction).
c. Wheeze (a whistling sound made in breathing).
d. Light fever (101F to 102F).
e. Back and muscle pain.
f. Cyanosis (blue bloater; a bluish discoloration of the skin and/or membranes;
in dark-skinned individuals, the skin discolors to gray or grayish tone).
g. More purulent (containing pus) and increase in volume of mucus produced
with a cough.
MD0568
4-9