Brown crust formed on the lip and teeth is known as?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2018

Explanation

Sordes is the specific medical term for the accumulation of foul matter, including food debris, bacteria, and sloughed tissue, that forms crusts on the lips and teeth.
This condition is characteristic of patients who are in a debilitated state, such as those with high fevers, severe dehydration, or those who are unconscious and breathing through the mouth.
The description 'brown crust formed on the lip and teeth' directly corresponds to the clinical definition of sordes.

Option A: Calculus, also known as tartar, is hardened dental plaque that forms on the teeth, not a soft crust that also involves the lips.
Option B: Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. It is a symptom (an odor) and not a physical substance like a crust.
Option C: Cheilosis (or angular cheilitis) is inflammation and cracking at the corners of the mouth. It does not describe a crust covering the lips and teeth.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Terminology for Oral Health Assessment as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must prioritize and perform regular, thorough oral hygiene for at-risk patients (e.g., unconscious, ventilated, febrile, NPO) to prevent sordes.
Prevention of sordes is crucial as it reduces patient discomfort and lowers the risk of secondary infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) from aspiration of oral bacteria.
What if? If a patient is conscious but too weak to perform oral care, the nurse must assist them. Simply providing supplies is not enough; direct assistance or supervised care is a key patient safety intervention.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key descriptors in the question: 'brown crust', 'lip', and 'teeth'.
Next, analyze the options provided, recalling the specific definition for each medical term related to oral health.
Differentiate between a physical substance (crust), a hard deposit (calculus), a symptom (halitosis), and an inflammatory condition at a specific location (cheilosis).
Select the term that precisely matches the description of a crusty accumulation on both lips and teeth, which is sordes.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QBvqB40rIuAn_DOcaOgOGU

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 308-310

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 2 p. 113-115

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