Deck 6: Acute Illness and Accidents

Question 1

What accounts for the largest proportion of death and disability among elders?

A) chronic illnesses
B) acute illness
C) accidents
D) suicides
E) cancer

Answer 1

chronic illnesses

Question 2

Why are elders at a greater risk for illness or death from common infections?

A) age-associated physiological changes
B) the prevalence of chronic illnesses
C) environmental influences
D) all of the above
E) a and b

Answer 2

all of the above

Question 3

Why is diagnosis of an infection more difficult in elders than other age groups?

A) important warning signs such as a fever may be atypical or absent
B) nonspecific symptoms such as confusion or fatigue accompany an infection
C) warning signs are misinterpreted as an association to age-related decline
D) elders often do not report warning signs to their physicians
E) all of the above

Answer 3

all of the above

Question 4

Helicobacter pylori is

A) a bacteria that causes appendicitis
B) a viral infection occurring in the stomach
C) more common among elders than middle-aged adults
D) more than one of above is true
E) all are false

Question 5

Which of the following is (are) false regarding influenza?

A) the rate of infection is highest among children
B) the rates of illness and death are highest among elders
C) each vaccine protects against one type of virus
D) the vaccine lasts only a few months
E) none are false

Question 6

Which of the following statements is (are) false regarding gallstones?

A) decrease with age
B) composed of calcium and cholesterol
C) more common among women than women
D) most common among Native American women
E) all are true statements

Question 7

What is a diverticulum?

A) part of the appendix
B) needed for proper digestion
C) another word for intestinal villae
D) the valve between the stomach and intestine
E) none of the above

Question 8

Which acute illness is responsible for the highest number of deaths among older people in our country?

A) influenza
B) pneumonia
C) acute bronchitis
D) heart disease
E) AIDS

Question 9

What is the most prevalent acute infection in the United States?

A) the flu
B) pneumonia
C) the common cold
D) ear infection
E) septicemia

Question 10

What is the most common bacterial infection in elderly?

A) urinary tract infection
B) septicemia
C) pressure ulcer
D) diverticular disease
E) influenza

Question 11

Approximately how many types of viruses that cause the common cold have been identified?

A) 2
B) 20
C) 200
D) 2,000
E) more than 2,000

Question 12

What is an example of a latent infection?

A) the common cold
B) hypothermia
C) shingles
D) pneumonia
E) all of the above

Question 13

What is a nosocomial infection?

A) an infection contracted in a hospital
B) an infection that cannot be cured with antibiotics
C) an infection that accompanies a chronic condition
D) an infection that remains dormant for many years
E) an infection transmitted by sexual contact

Question 14

Why are elders more susceptible to accidents than other age groups?

A) reduced vision and hearing
B) other chronic and acute conditions
C) medications prescribed
D) poor gait
E) all of the above

Question 15

How should you help a choking victim?

A) Heimlich maneuver
B) back slaps
C) if breathing, do nothing
D) all of the above
E) a and c

Question 16

Which of the following is false regarding accidents among older people?

A) they stay in the hospital longer for accidents than for chronic disease
B) due to individual susceptibility and environmental hazards
C) chronic diseases increase accident risk
D) responsible for three-fourths of all accidents deaths in our country
E) more than one of above is false

Question 17

Which of the following is the most common cause of accidental death among elders?

A) driving accidents
B) pedestrian accidents
C) choking
D) fires and burns
E) falls

Question 18

Elders are more likely to suffer from appendicitis than younger groups.

Question 19

Shingles (Herpes zoster) is caused by the same bacteria responsible for chicken pox.

Question 20

Hypothermia can develop over a period of a few days.

Question 21

The most common infections in women are vaginal infections.

Question 22

Among the elderly, fifty percent of falls lead to fractures.

Question 23

Elders are more likely to fall at home than in an institution.

Question 24

Elders drive fewer miles than the rest of the population.

Question 25

Elders have a higher automobile accident rate than the rest of the driving population.

Question 26

Elders are more likely to contract an infection than younger groups.

Question 27

Most deaths from influenza are people over 65.

Question 28

The flu vaccine is effective for about five years.

Question 29

A vaccine to protect against a common type of pneumonia is available and lasts about seven years.

Question 30

There are many causes of pneumonia, but the most common cause among older people is due to a bacteria.

Question 31

Diarrhea is not a serious problem; it will go away by itself if not treated.

Question 32

Urinary infections are most common among young women, but become less likely in the later years.

Question 33

The most common injuries from falls among the elderly are bone fractures.

Question 34

There is a relationship between the psychoactive drug use among the elderly and hip fractures.

Question 35

Accidents due to fires and burns are as common as accidents due to falls among those over 65.

Question 36

Heat stroke is a life threatening emergency.

Question 37

Acute illnesses are responsible for the largest proportion of death and disability among elders.

Question 38

A tremendous variety of antibiotics are available to treat a wide range of viral infections.

Question 39

List the benefits and drawbacks of antibiotics.

Question 40

What did Sir William Osler mean when he said that pneumonia is a "friend of the aged?"

Question 41

List ways to stop the spread of any viral infection such as the common cold.

Question 42

Explain how both underweight people and overweight people are both likely candidates for pressure ulcers.

Question 43

What can be done in an elder's home to reduce the risk of falls?

Question 44

Name at least three factors that predispose elders to respiratory infections.

Question 45

Discuss at least three ways that institutionalization might increase the rate of acute illnesses.

Question 46

List those factors which place older people at a higher risk of debilitation from acute infections.

Question 47

Discuss the cause and treatment of the common cold.

Question 48

What factors predispose older people to urinary tract infections?

Question 49

List ways in which nursing homes might minimize the risk of pressure ulcers among their residents.

Question 50

Describe the differences between decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants.

Question 51

Distinguish the difference between bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis.

Question 52

What is septicemia? List its risk factors and treatment.

Question 53

What is aspiration pneumonia? Who is most at risk?

Question 54

What are the physiological consequences of dehydration?

Question 55

Many chronic illnesses predispose elders to acute infections. Discuss why this is so, using examples.

Question 56

What are the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations regarding physicians counseling their patients on decreasing the risk of falls?

Question 57

What has been found regarding the driving habits of older drivers?

Question 58

List ways to reduce an elder's accident susceptibility.

Question 59

Discuss the many physical and psychological factors that contribute to elders's susceptibility to accidents. How might these be prevented?

Question 60

Discuss the factors that place older people at higher risk of illness or death from common infections.

Question 61

Compare and the four temperature-related acute illnesses: hypothermia, hyperthermia, heat stroke and
heat exhaustion: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention.

Question 62

Describe the best method to assist a choking victim.

Question 63

List and describe the six common drug types used to treat symptoms of the common cold.

Question 64

Discuss the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers and the impact that pressure ulcers have upon the individual and the institution.

Question 65

List and describe three factors that increase the risk of driving accidents among older people? How might the risk be reduced?