The signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease is

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2021 Shift-1st

Explanation

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, and its diagnosis is based on a collection of clinical signs.
The cardinal signs include tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia/akinesia, and postural instability (TRAP).
Tremors (especially at rest), impaired posture and balance (leading to falls), and speech changes (like soft, slurred speech) are all well-documented manifestations.
Because all the individual options are correct symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the most comprehensive and accurate answer is 'All the above'.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: This option is correct but incomplete. While tremors are a hallmark sign of Parkinson's disease, they are not the only symptom.
Option B: This option is correct but incomplete. Impaired posture and balance are significant problems in Parkinson's, contributing to fall risk, but other key symptoms are also present.
Option C: This option is correct but incomplete. Speech changes like hypophonia (soft speech) and dysarthria are common, but they are part of a larger syndrome.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Nurses play a crucial role in managing Parkinson's symptoms, focusing on patient safety, mobility, and quality of life.
A primary nursing concern is fall prevention due to postural instability and shuffling gait. This involves patient education, home safety assessments, and encouraging the use of assistive devices.
Administering medications like Levodopa on a strict schedule is vital to manage motor symptoms and prevent 'off' periods where symptoms worsen.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the question carefully to identify the core topic: the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Next, evaluate each option individually. Ask yourself, 'Is this a known symptom of Parkinson's disease?'
Recognize that Tremors (A), Impaired posture/balance (B), and Speech changes (C) are all correct individual symptoms.
When multiple options are factually correct and an 'All the above' option is present, consider if the condition is a syndrome with multiple features.
Since Parkinson's disease presents with a constellation of symptoms, 'All the above' is the most complete and therefore the best answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Clinical manifestations of Parkinson's disease
Stem keywords: Parkinson's disease, signs and symptoms
Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q0r2uoW4qk98KW7VeiOXne

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 1844-1846, 1835-1837

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 1133-1135

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