Question

Patricia was called at work by a woman at the local day care center. She told Patricia to come and pick up her son because he was not feeling well. Her son, 3½-year-old Marshall, had been feeling tired and achy when he woke up. While at day care, his cheeks had become red, and he was warm to touch. He did not want to play with his friends, and by the time Patricia arrived, he was crying. Later that afternoon, Marshall’s condition worsened. He had fever, chills, a sore throat, runny nose, and a dry hacking cough. Suspecting Marshall had influenza, Patricia wrapped him up and took him to the community health care clinic.

1. Why did Marshall’s presentation lead Patricia to think he had influenza and not a cold?
2. Why is it important to medically evaluate and diagnose a potential influenza infection?
3. Describe the pathophysiology of the influenza virus. Outline the properties of influenza A antigens that allow them to exert their effects in the host.
4. Marshall may be at risk at contracting secondary bacterial pneumonia. Why is this so? Explain why cyanosis may be a feature associated with pneumonia.

Answer 1

#The symptoms like fever ,chills,sore throat,dry hacking cough,extreme tiredness would have made Patricia to think about his son having a influenza and not a common cold.

#The children during their toddler period are more prone for a respiratory infection .As their immunity are less the chance of infection is greater. Often it has to be diagnosed at the earliest to prevent any major complications and mortality.So it is important to evaluate and diagnose a potential influenza infection

#When the Virus enters the host through their respiratory system.It affects the epithelial cells as a result inflammation of the cells occurs. The immune system responds by elevating body temperature to fight infection,coryza to remove the antigen out of the body,cough center is triggered to remove the antigen. If not treated it progresses by the binding of hemagluttinin to the epithelial cells and increase the level of infection.At the same time the neuraminidase spreads the antigen virus and makes the infection severe

The main property of influenza A virus is their genetic liability. They have a tendency to mutate in different circumstances and infect a host.

# The secondary bacterial pneumonia is a risk in this child because the vireons spread throughout the lungs in less than 48 hours making the lungs weaker in fighting against any microorganisms. The bacterial can easily invade the lungs in these situations and cause bacterial pneumonia. The cyanosis happens because of the apostosis of the lung cells .This makes the the oxygen transportation or gas exchange impossible resulting in accumulation of carbon dioxide and deprive people oxygen causing cyanosis.