Part 3: Impact of systemic conditions and medications on oral health.

The people who are treated in the community setting will often have multiple comorbidities. Systemic medical conditions can have a negative impact on oral health. In addition, the medications used to treat systemic conditions may also themselves cause oral symptoms. As a large proportion of patients treated by the community nursing team will be elderly, this paper will focus on common geriatric conditions that can display oral or dental symptoms. The effects of medications will be discussed and linked to oral complaints patients may express. The primary aims are to give a broad overview of the oral effects of ageing, of illness and of polypharmacy and advise on how these can be best managed by the nursing team.

Managing Sjogren's Syndrome.

There are approximately 4 million Americans diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome. This article discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and implications for home care clinicians who may encounter patients with this syndrome. Chronic pain is discussed as well as interventions to manage symptoms such fatigue, dry eyes mouth and skin.

Sjögren's syndrome: the hidden disease.

Sjögren's syndrome is the most common autoimmune disorder among women. This chronic, progressive condition targets moisture-producing glands and seriously disrupts quality of life. With vague symptomatology, individuals frequently delay seeking medical attention and develop systemic organ involvement. Comprehension of clinical features will assist nurses and nurse practitioners in primary care settings to facilitate diagnosis and supportive therapy, thus reducing the burden of disease.

A atuação do enfermeiro na identificação dos sinais e sintomas relacionados à síndrome de Sjõgren / La actuación del enfermero en la identificación de los signos y síntomas relacionados con el síndrome de Sjõgren / The nurse's performance in the identification of signs and symptoms related Sjõgren's syndrome

Descrever a atuação do enfermeiro na identificação dos sinais e sintomas da SS levando em consideração conceitos baseados em NANDA juntamente com um critério europeu de anamnese para SS. Método: Pesquisa bibliográfica de caráter qualitativa descritiva e exploratória, tendo como base de dados a Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), Bibliotecas da UFF e UNIPLI. Resultados: Há dificuldade de ser feito um diagnóstico preciso acerca da Síndrome de Sjõgren, já que são várias as manifestações clínicas, mas essestêm que se relacionar para serem uma síndrome. Conclusão: Concluímos que o enfermeiro possui grande importância na detecção de sinais e sintomas para um estudo direcionado, aumentando a qualidade de vida dos portadores. O critério que poderá ser utilizado pelo enfermeiro para este diagnóstico precoce da SS é o uso de diagnóstico de enfermagem NANDA.

Describe el papel de las enfermeras en la identificación de los signos y síntomas de la SS considerando conceptos basados en la NANDA, junto con un criterio de historia europea para la SS. Metodo: Bibliográfico investigación descriptiva cualitativo y exploratorio, basado en datos de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS), Bibliotecas y UFF UNIPLI. Resultados: Es difícil ser precisos acerca de hacer un diagnóstico de síndrome de Sjogren, ya que hay varias manifestaciones clínicas, pero éstas deben estar relacionados con un síndrome. Conclusión: Se concluye que la enfermera tiene gran importancia en la detección de signos y síntomas de un estudio dirigido, mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Los criterios que podrían ser utilizados por los enfermeros para este diagnóstico precoz de la SS es el uso de los diagnósticos de enfermería NANDA.

Describing the role of nurses in the identification of signs and symptoms of SS considering concepts based on NANDA along with a European history criterion for SS. Method: Bibliographical research qualitative descriptive and exploratory, based on data from the Virtual Health Library (VHL), Libraries and UNIPLI UFF. Results: It is difficult to be precise about making a diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome, since thereare several clinical manifestations, but these have to relate to be a syndrome. Conclusion: We conclude that the nurse has great importance in the detection of signs and symptoms for a directed study, enhance quality of life of patients. The criteria that could be used by nurses for this early diagnosis of SS is the use of NANDA nursing diagnosis.

Caring for women living with Sjögren's syndrome.

T his article advises nurses about providing care to women who are living with Sjögren's syndrome. A chronic, autoimmune condition, Sjögren's syndrome affects mostly women and leads to visual, vocal, and vaginal problems related to dryness. A review of the literature indicates that not many women are aware of Sjögren's, and when diagnosed, are not informed about the possibility that they will have the vaginal dryness associated with the condition. Nursing implications include interventions that involve pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods to moisturize women's eyes, mouth, and vagina, increasing the comfort of those with Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome--implications for perioperative practice.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disorder in which lymphocytes invade the exocrine glands, leading to destruction of the glandular tissue. Systemic inflammation also may occur and involve multiple organs. Ninety percent of patients with SS are female, Caucasian, and middle-aged. The characteristic symptoms of xerostomia and xerophthalmia often are trivialized, and the disorder is significantly underdiagnosed. Early diagnosis and management can prevent devastating oral and ocular complications and internal organ damage. Treatment modalities are aimed at providing comfort and preventing complications and progression of the disease. In the perioperative practice setting, nurses play an important role in the health care team involved in providing surgical care to patients with SS.

Sjögren's syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is the most common autoimmune disorder among women. Symptoms occur when the infiltration of immune cells into the salivary and lacrimal glands causes a progressive decline in sight, smell, and taste. Although symptoms seriously disrupt quality of life, the disease's vague manifestations usually prevent individuals from seeking immediate help. By the time a diagnosis is rendered, significant systemic organ involvement may have occurred. Although there is no cure, clinician understanding of the epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of SS enhances its symptomatic management in primary care settings.

Seeing the glass half full: living with Sjogren's Syndrome.

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore the lived experiences of women with Sjogren's Syndrome (SS), a chronic autoimmune syndrome in which invading lymphocytes attack moisture-producing glands of the body. This syndrome, affecting 4 million Americans, involves extreme dryness of the eyes and mouth and other systemic complications such as fatigue and muscle and joint pain. Ten women, ranging in age from 27 to 83, with SS were interviewed to understand their coping strategies and attitudes. This study used Strauss' framework to view the quality of life of the chronically ill-specifically, those with SS. Nine questions were asked to elicit information on limitations with daily living, relationships, emotions about lifestyle changes, and comparisons with others living with chronic disease. In addition to SS, 8 of the 10 women also had fibromyalgia, and 4 had other conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (secondary Sjogren's). Their responses were categorized into four groups: helping, hindering, hoping, and hurting. This led to the development of the 4H Model of Chronic Autoimmune Disease with subcategories such as: supporting, joining, comparing, coping, health promoting, fearing, becoming a chronic sufferer, feeling, wishing, appearing, impeding, restricting, isolating, suffering, doctoring, and diagnosing. J Prof Nurs 17:194-202, 2001.

Recognition and management of Sjögren's syndrome: strategies for the advanced practice nurse.

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands. The systemic production of autoantibodies leads to dry eyes, dry mouth, and other symptoms related to decreased salivary and lacrimal gland function in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. This article discusses origins, epidemiology, contributing factors, symptoms, assessment, diagnostic studies, management, expected outcomes, and research concerning Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjogren's syndrome?

Dry eyes and mouth are just two of the many symptoms that can develop as a result of this common but little-known autoimmune disease that gradually destroys the exocrine glands. Because the effects are so far-reaching, it's important to familiarize yourself with diagnostic and treatment options as well as the special care needs of these patients.