Medical Complications

 

• CARDIOVASCULAR

  • Slow Pulse

  • Low Blood Pressure

  • Electrocardiogram abnormalities

  • Hypovolemia

  • Myocardiopathy and CHT ( especially with use of ipecac )

• CHEMISTRIES

  • Uric acid elevated

  • Cholesterol is abnormal ( elevated or depressed )

  • Carotene is elevated

  • Deficiencies of trace minerals

  • Low blood glucose

  • Hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis

• DENTAL AND MOUTH

  • Increased dental caries

  • Highly sensitive teeth from gingival deterioration

  • Pyorrhea

  • Lacerations and contusion of the oral cavity from use of objects to induce emesis

  • Tooth Loss

  • Erosion of enamel

  • Altered bite

  • Bleeding gums

  • Oral sensitivity

• DERMATOLOGIC

  • Dry skin

  • Loss of subcutaneous tissue and fat in general

  • Scars ( such as on knuckles due to inducing emesis )

  • Fine lanugo hair

  • Acrocyanosis

• EFFECTS ON BRAIN AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

  • Lack of REM sleep

  • Affected hypothalamus ( lower body temperature, loss of shivering response, cold intolerance, and malfunction of entire temperature regulating system due to chronic malnutrition

  • EEG abnormalities

• ENDOCRINE

  • T-3 deficiency ( leading to bradycardia, sluggish reflexes, dry skin, cold intolerance, hypercarotenemia, and various abnormalities of the hair )

  • Abnormal calcium levels and symptoms

  • Hypogonadism

  • Partial diabetes insipidus condition and the inability to concentrate urine normally

  • Addison’s disease or hyperaldosteronism

• FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES

  • Effects if resultant metabolic alkalosis, potassium and chloride deficiencies

  • Electrolyte Imbalances

  • Skeletal muscle weakness

  • Diminished reflexes

  • Abnormal gastrointestinal motility

  • Cramps

  • Paresthesia

  • Polyuria and oliguria

  • Nocturia

  • CNS abnormalities

  • Constipation

  • Cardial effects ( conduction abnormalities, irregular rhythms and sudden death )

  • Impaired kidney function

  • Emotional lability and lassitude

  • Potassium increase due to diuretic abuse causing cardiac abnormalities

  • Depletion of sodium ( hyponatremia )

  • Dehydration

  • Hyponatremia

  • Edema

• GASTROINTESTINAL

  • Abdominal pain, bloating, and fullness

  • Esophageal perforations and lacerations ( Mallow Weiss Syndrome )

  • Irritable bowel Syndrome

  • Malabsorption of nutrients leading to hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia and calcium deficienc

  • Fatty infiltration of the liver

  • Pancreatitis

  • Exacerbation of hemorrhoids

  • Esophagitis/li>

  • Melanosis coli

  • Gastritis

  • Gastric ulceration

  • Intestinal injury

• GYNECOLOGIC

  • Menstrual irregularity

  • Amenorrhea

  • Infertility

  • Atrophic vaginitis and loss of sexual appetite

  • Breast atrophy

• HEMATOLOGIC ABNORMALITIES

  • Anemia

  • Leukopenia

  • Thrombocytopenia

  • Bone marrow may be deficient or hypocellular

• OPHTHALMOLOGIC

  • Anemia

  • Transient blurred vision

  • Dark circles, puffiness under the eyes

• ORTHOPEDIC AND MUSCULOSKELETAL

  • Osteoporosis

  • Loss of muscle mass leading to muscular weakness

• PULMONARY

  • Aspiration pneumonia

• RENAL

  • Prerenal and renal azotemia due to diminished renal pertusion and chronic dehydration

  • Tubular and collecting system abnormalities due to electrolyte abnormality

  • Predisposition to renal stones

  • Kidney failure

• MISCELLANEOUS

  • Bacterial and fungal infections

  • Bilateral parotid gland swelling

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