The nurse is performing an initial assessment on a patient suspected of glomerulonephritis. Which symptoms would the nurse expect to observe?

Explanation

• Generalized edema, especially in the face and periorbital area, is usually present in acute glomerulonephritis.

• Glomerulonephritis causes increased permeability in the glomerulus. This leads to increased protein excretion and a decrease in osmotic pressure of the blood. This will lead to a fluid shift to the extravascular space, resulting in edema.

• Anuria and oliguria, not polyuria, are more likely to be present in patients with glomerulonephritis.

• Hypertension is more common than hypotension with glomerulonephritis.

• Leukocytes (leukocyturia) are present in the urine with any urinary infection. This finding is not specific to any infection or disease.

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