Dry mouth and dry eyes are the features of:

DSSSB 13 August 2024

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease.
It is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and destruction of the body's exocrine glands.
The primary targets are the lacrimal (tear-producing) and salivary (saliva-producing) glands.
This glandular destruction leads to the hallmark symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes) and xerostomia (dry mouth).

Option A: Aicardi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, not an autoimmune condition. Its primary features are neurological and ophthalmological but do not include the sicca symptoms of dry eyes and mouth.
Option B: 'Fjognen's syndrome' is not a recognized medical condition. It is included as a distractor because it sounds phonetically similar to 'Sjögren's syndrome' and is a common misspelling.
Option D: Felty syndrome is a specific complication of rheumatoid arthritis. While it is an immune-related condition, its defining features are a triad of rheumatoid arthritis, splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), and neutropenia (low white blood cell count), not dry eyes and mouth.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Clinical manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in managing the symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome. This includes patient education on using artificial tears, saliva substitutes, and maintaining meticulous oral hygiene to prevent the high risk of dental caries and oral infections.
It is crucial for nurses to monitor for systemic manifestations, as Sjögren's can also affect the lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, and nervous system.
Patients with Sjögren's have a significantly increased risk of developing lymphoma. Nurses should educate patients to report any new, persistent, or enlarging lumps, especially in the neck, armpits, or groin, or swollen salivary glands.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key clinical signs presented in the question stem: 'Dry mouth' and 'dry eyes'.
Recognize these as the classic 'sicca symptoms', which point towards a dysfunction of the moisture-producing (exocrine) glands.
Consider the underlying pathophysiology. An autoimmune attack on these glands is a primary cause of such symptoms.
Evaluate the options provided. Sjögren's syndrome is the classic autoimmune disease defined by the destruction of salivary and lacrimal glands.
Systematically eliminate the other options by recalling their distinct features: Aicardi syndrome (a genetic brain disorder), Felty syndrome (a complication of rheumatoid arthritis involving the spleen and blood cells), and 'Fjognen's syndrome' (a misspelling/invalid term).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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