Question

A young patient presented with muscle spasms, numbness in hands and feet, seizures and difficulty in breathing due to laryngospasm.. His blood picture showed electrolyte imbalance. What is the cause for these manifestations in the patient.

• A. Respiratory Acidosis
• B. Respiratory Alkalosis
• C. Metabolic acidosis
• D. Metabolic Alkalosis

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The symptoms presented by the patient, such as muscle spasms, numbness, seizures, and laryngospasm, are indicative of a condition that affects neuromuscular function. These are classic signs of tetany, often caused by hypocalcemia, which can occur due to respiratory alkalosis.

In respiratory alkalosis, there is a decrease in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the blood, often due to hyperventilation. This leads to a rise in blood pH, a condition known as alkalosis. The alkalosis effectively reduces the concentration of ionized calcium in the blood because the elevated pH increases the binding of calcium ions to albumin, reducing the free calcium ions that are bioavailable.

The resulting low levels of free calcium can destabilize nerve membranes, making them more excitable and potentially causing hyperexcitability of the nervous system. This is why symptoms such as muscle spasms, numbness, and seizures can occur, along with breathing difficulties like laryngospasm due to the hyperactivity of the muscles.

Given these points, the cause for these manifestations in the patient is respiratory alkalosis.