A nurse is admitting a client who has influenza and reports numbness and tingling in their extremities. What acid-base imbalance should the nurse recognize this client is experiencing?

The client experiencing influenza and reporting numbness and tingling in their extremities is likely experiencing respiratory alkalosis. This condition can result from hyperventilation, which may occur with respiratory illnesses like influenza. Hyperventilation leads to excessive loss of carbon dioxide (CO2), which causes an increase in blood pH, resulting in respiratory alkalosis.

Numbness and tingling, particularly in the extremities, are common neurological symptoms that arise due to the decreased levels of carbon dioxide, altering the acid-base balance and causing hypocalcemia or reduced ionized calcium levels, which contribute to these sensations. When CO2 levels drop, the resulting shifts in blood chemistry can directly lead to sensory disturbances, making it crucial for nurses to assess these symptoms in the context of a respiratory pathophysiology.

Other options like metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and respiratory acidosis do not match the symptom profile and physiological response seen in this client scenario. These conditions have different underlying causes and manifestations. Understanding the link between the client's symptoms and the resulting acid-base imbalance is vital for proper management and interventions.