A female patient is diagnosed with gonorrhoea. The nurse should assess her for which of the following?

AIIMS Bhatinda NO - 2019

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Medium

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhatinda NO - 2019

Explanation

Gonorrhea in females is often asymptomatic but can ascend from the cervix to the upper reproductive tract.
This ascension of bacteria causes Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries.
Lower abdominal pain is a cardinal and common symptom of PID.
Therefore, assessing for lower abdominal pain is a critical nursing action to detect this serious complication early.

Option B: Muscle rigidity is a sign of neuromuscular dysfunction, often associated with conditions like tetanus or severe electrolyte disturbances, and has no direct link to gonorrhea.
Option C: An unsteady gait (ataxia) is a neurological sign affecting balance and coordination. It is not caused by a gonorrheal infection.
Option D: A simple reddish rash on the inner thigh is not characteristic of gonorrhea. While a rare complication, Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI), can cause skin lesions, they are typically pustular or hemorrhagic and appear on the trunk and limbs.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Assessment of complications of gonorrhea in female patients to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Early identification of PID is crucial for nurses as delayed treatment significantly increases the risk of long-term sequelae, including ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain.
Nursing responsibilities include educating the patient on the signs of PID, the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics, and the necessity of partner notification and treatment to prevent reinfection.
What if? If the patient were male, the nurse would primarily assess for testicular pain and swelling, which are signs of epididymitis, a common complication of gonorrhea in men.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core information: a female patient has been diagnosed with gonorrhea.
The question asks what the nurse should assess for, which points towards identifying common symptoms or complications.
Recall or deduce the common progression of gonorrhea in females. Untreated infections can travel up the reproductive tract.
This upward spread leads to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
Evaluate the options to find a classic symptom of PID. Lower abdominal pain is a hallmark sign.
Eliminate the other options by linking them to different body systems or diseases (neurological, dermatological) not typically associated with a primary gonorrheal infection.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Assessment of complications of gonorrhea in female patients.
Stem keywords: female patient, diagnosed, gonorrhoea, assess
Lead-in keywords: which of the following
Clinical cues: The patient's gender (female) is a critical cue, as complications of gonorrhea differ between sexes.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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