Nursing Care for Patients with Bullous Pemphigoid: a Case Study

Abstract

Bullous pemphigoid is a chronic autoimmune disease that results from immune dysfunction, primarily affecting the elderly. The disease progresses slowly and may exhibit symptoms intermittently, necessitating continuous long-term treatment. Consequently, this disease significantly impacts patient’s quality of life. This article aims to study the nursing process and nursing care for patients with bullous pemphigoid. In this report, the author investigated a Bullous Pemphigoid case in an outpatient clinic at San Kamphaeng Hospital, Chiang Mai Province, between January 1 and 31, 2024, with one follow-up. Data were collected from her medical record to identify nursing diagnoses and nursing plans and evaluate nursing outcomes.

The findings indicated that a 62-year-old Thai female patient presented herself for examination due to the presence of clear blisters dispersed across her body for a duration of three weeks. Upon examination, the physician diagnosed her with bullous pemphigoid and initiated treatment comprising oral corticosteroids and symptom-relieving medications. The patient received comprehensive care following the established nursing process until her eventual discharge.

These findings underscored the critical need for outpatient department nurses to be equipped with requisite knowledge and skills for the assessment and management of patients with bullous pemphigoid and the handling of associated complications to help patients to adapt to life with this disease.