A child who ingested a handful of aspirin tablets from a medicine cabinet at home is brought to the emergency department. The nurse caring for the child notes a respiratory rate of 48 breaths per minute
The nurse understands that this child's respiratory rate is the result of the body's at-tempt to compensate for: a. metabolic acidosis.
b. metabolic alkalosis.
c. respiratory acidosis.
d. respiratory alkalosis.
A
Metabolic acidosis can result from the ingestion of aspirin. The body responds by hyperventilat-ing to reduce CO2, which represents volatile carbonic acid, and raise pH. This child has a rapid respiratory rate in response to metabolic acidosis. In patients with metabolic alkalosis, the body responds with hypoventilation in an effort to increase the CO2 level. Patients with respiratory acidosis usually have retention of CO2 secondary to hypoventilation, and compensation is the result of retention of bicarbonate by the kidneys, which is a slow process. Respiratory alkalosis is caused by hyperventilation; treatment involves having the patient rebreathe CO2 or administering sedatives.
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