DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015
Mental Health Nursing
Easy
An individual who is addicted to heroin is likely to experience which of the following symptoms of withdrawal?
Appeared in: DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015
Explanation
- Heroin is an opioid, and its withdrawal syndrome presents with a distinct set of symptoms often compared to a severe case of the flu.
- The most characteristic symptoms are severe gastrointestinal distress, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Excessive sweating (diaphoresis) is another hallmark sign, contributing to the overall flu-like presentation of opioid withdrawal.
- Other common signs include muscle aches, abdominal cramping, runny nose (rhinorrhea), watery eyes (lacrimation), and yawning.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: While increased heart rate and blood pressure (autonomic hyperactivity) can occur during opioid withdrawal, they are not as specific or universally present as the severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Option B: Seizures are not a characteristic symptom of opioid withdrawal. Their presence strongly suggests withdrawal from other substances.
- Option C: Lack of coordination and an unsteady gait (ataxia) are signs of acute intoxication with central nervous system depressants, not withdrawal.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Symptoms of Opioid (Heroin) Withdrawal as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses use standardized tools like the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) to objectively measure the severity of withdrawal and guide treatment. This scale assesses pulse rate, sweating, GI upset, and other key symptoms.
- While opioid withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own, the severe discomfort can lead to relapse. Providing symptomatic relief (e.g., antiemetics, antidiarrheals) and emotional support is a critical nursing role.
- What if? If the patient had a history of both heroin and heavy alcohol use, the nurse must be vigilant for signs of both withdrawal syndromes. The primary concern would shift to the life-threatening risk of seizures and delirium tremens from alcohol withdrawal, which would require more intensive medical intervention.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the symptoms of withdrawal from a specific substance: heroin.
- Recall that heroin is an opioid. The withdrawal syndrome from opioids is classically described as a severe, flu-like illness.
- Systematically evaluate each option against this classic presentation.
- Option A (increased HR/BP) can occur but is a general sign of autonomic distress, not the most specific feature.
- Option B includes seizures, which is a key 'red flag' symptom pointing towards alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, not opioid withdrawal.
- Option C describes ataxia, which is a sign of intoxication (being under the influence), not withdrawal.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Symptoms of Opioid (Heroin) Withdrawal
- Stem keywords: heroin, addicted, withdrawal, symptoms
- Lead-in keywords: which of the following
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QLXX3OvFn14Lp4nsyjRiR0
Reference Book
E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 1594-1596
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 4563-4565, 4564-4566
Practise the full DSSSB Public Health Nurse - 2015
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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