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.