Question

The nurse is completing an assessment history of a client with pernicious anemia. Which complaint differentiates pernicious anemia from other types of anemia? A. Difficulty in breathing after exertion B. Numbness and tingling in the extremities C. A faster-than-usual heart rate D. Feelings of lightheadedness

Short answer

Answer: Numbness and tingling in the extremities.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying symptoms related to other types of anemia

A, C, and D can be symptoms of multiple types of anemia. Difficulty in breathing after exertion, a faster-than-usual heart rate, and feelings of lightheadedness can be related to the body's response to low oxygen levels caused by decreased red blood cells and hemoglobin levels, which is common in anemia.

Identifying the symptom specific to pernicious anemia

As pernicious anemia is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12, which has an important role in maintaining the nervous system, we should look for the symptom that might indicate a problem with this system and differentiate it from other types of anemia. Among the given options, B (Numbness and tingling in the extremities) is the symptom that indicates a possible issue with the nervous system related specifically to pernicious anemia.

Provide the answer

After analyzing the given symptoms, we can conclude that the symptom that differentiates pernicious anemia from other types of anemia is: B. Numbness and tingling in the extremities.