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Hospital Corpsman 1 & C - Advanced Navy Nursing manual for hospital training purposes | Next
DISORDERS OF THE EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT |
TREATMENT—Evacuate the patient to a
medical facility for evaluation.
Lymphadenitis and Lymphangitis
Lymphadenitis is the inflammation of a lymph
node. Lymphangitis is the inflammation of a
lymph vessel. The cause is bacterial infection
arising from the site of an infected wound or an
area of cellulitis.
SYMPTOMS—Throbbing pain, malaise,
anorexia,
sweating, chills, and fever are
common. There may be a red streak running
from the wound site toward the lymph nodes.
TREATMENT—General measures consist of
rest and immobilization of the affected part.
Moist heat and systemic antibiotic therapy are
indicated.
Anemia
This is a condition in which red blood cells
are deficient in volume in the circulating blood
or in total hemoglobin content per unit of blood.
It may be caused by excessive blood loss,
deficient RBC production, RBC destruction, or
iron deficiency.
SYMPTOMS—They include fatigue, dyspnea,
palpation, waxy pallor, low hemoglobin, angina,
and tachycardia.
TREATMENT—Rest, whole blood, supple-
mental iron,
and replacement of dietary
deficiencies are the recommended treatment
measures.
Leukemia
It is a disorder of the blood forming tissue that
is characterized by proliferation of abnormal
white blood cells.
SYMPTOMS—Malaise, anorexia, fever,
arthralgia, lymph node swelling, sternal
tenderness, and excessive bleeding are com-
mon.
TREATMENT—Evacuate the patient to a
medical facility.
PROBLEMS OF THE
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM
Fractures, dislocations, sprains, and strains are
by far the most common ailments of the
musculoskeletal system. As these are covered in
the HM 3 & 2 Rate Training Manual, they
will not be addressed here. However, common
inflammatory conditions are often presented at
sick call: the following are some of the more
commonly encountered.
Costochondritis (Tietze’s Syndrome)
This is an inflammatory condition of the costal
cartilages of unknown cause.
SYMPTOMS—It is characterized by pain,
tenderness, and sometimes swelling of one
or more of the costal cartilages. The pain is
is accentuated by breathing, coughing, and move-
ment. It may be mistaken for cardiovascular
disease by the patient. Palpation may localize the
pain to the point of inflammation.
TREATMENT—Administer analgesics for
pain. In more severe episodes, it maybe necessary
to inject the site of inflammation with a mixture
of lidocaine and steroids. This condition is often
persistent and may last for weeks.
Bursitis
This an acute or chronic inflammation of a
bursa that may be the result of trauma, gout,
infection, or rheumatoid arthritis.
SYMPTOMS—Pain, swelling, limitation of
movement in the area involving the affected
bursa are common. There may be effusion into
the bursal sac.
TREATMENT—General measures consist of
complete rest of the affected area until there is
relief of acutes symptoms. Administer analgesics
and encourage active movement as soon as the
pain subsides. Heat and massaging may help.
Hydrocortisone injections provide relief in most
cases not caused by a specific infection.
Tendinitis/Tenosynovitis
Tendinitis is the inflammation of the flexor
tendons or tendon-muscle attachments: ten-
osynovitis is an inflammation of the synovial
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