Question

A 76-year-old woman brings her 95-year-old mother into the ambulatory clinic. The mother is deaf and motions for her daughter to talk for her. The daughter gives an account of the mother's health condition. While the health history of the mother is being given, the nurse notices several skin lesions on the daughter's lower arms. The daughter is overweight, seems out of breath, and is perspiring heavily although the room temperature is 76F. What actions would you suggest the nurse take with the daughter? If an action is taken, when is the appropriate time to do so?

Answer 1

Based on the given data, the daughter is suffering from edema, which results obesity and clogging of skin pores. The clogging of the skin pores is responsible for bacterial infection under the lower arms. The edema reduces the lung compliance and has high BMR which results heavy perspiration. So, initially nurse has to take an action on bacterial infection by administration of some antibiotics or anti-bacterial creams. Then nurse should tell her to do minor exercise regularly to increase proper homeostasis.