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Is There Any Reason To Worry About The Blood In Vomit?
Hi Doctor
I have a staff member who is HIV positive, on medication, and has been doing well for 6 years. Her CD count is 600. She had a loss of appetite yesterday, and started vomitting blood since the morning. She is headstrong, and says she is ok. She had something to eat this afternoon.
Is there any reason to worry about the blood in her vommit?
I have a staff member who is HIV positive, on medication, and has been doing well for 6 years. Her CD count is 600. She had a loss of appetite yesterday, and started vomitting blood since the morning. She is headstrong, and says she is ok. She had something to eat this afternoon.
Is there any reason to worry about the blood in her vommit?
Sat, 12 Apr 2014
**
1. because he/she was doing well for 6 years, thus in sudden loss of appetite one should investigate
.Blood: Hb%, S.Bilirubin, Urea
. X-ray chest
. Ultrasound of abdomen [hepatitis]
PS. though side effects with medications for HIV are liver damage: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, let your doctor know about the symptoms,and even if he/she is experiencing the said symptoms it is important to take your medicines exactly when told to.
2. Blood Vomit [hematemesis] could be due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding [perform Endoscopy only after hemodynamic status is established.
. It should never be treated symptomatically, he/she should be properly investigated.
. Obtain a chest X-ray [PA-view] for possible causes : tuberculous cavitation, features of mitral stenosis, lower zone fibrosis, pulmonary infarction
. examine for non-pulmonary causes eg: hypertension, bleeding diathesis
. bed rest in semi reclining position
. mild tranquilizer to relieve anxiety
PS.
i. make sure your doctor do not miss acute pulmonary edema or mistake hematemesis with hemoptysis.
1. because he/she was doing well for 6 years, thus in sudden loss of appetite one should investigate
.Blood: Hb%, S.Bilirubin, Urea
. X-ray chest
. Ultrasound of abdomen [hepatitis]
PS. though side effects with medications for HIV are liver damage: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, let your doctor know about the symptoms,and even if he/she is experiencing the said symptoms it is important to take your medicines exactly when told to.
2. Blood Vomit [hematemesis] could be due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding [perform Endoscopy only after hemodynamic status is established.
. It should never be treated symptomatically, he/she should be properly investigated.
. Obtain a chest X-ray [PA-view] for possible causes : tuberculous cavitation, features of mitral stenosis, lower zone fibrosis, pulmonary infarction
. examine for non-pulmonary causes eg: hypertension, bleeding diathesis
. bed rest in semi reclining position
. mild tranquilizer to relieve anxiety
PS.
i. make sure your doctor do not miss acute pulmonary edema or mistake hematemesis with hemoptysis.
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