Question

A 22 year old female has to come into the gynecologist’s office complaining of fever, malaise, dysuria and vaginal leucorrhea. Upon examination the physician observes fluid- filled vesicles on her cervix, vulva and perineum. Several have ruptured into inguinal lymph nodes. She also has an extragenital lesion on her mouth. Her diagnosis is genital herpes

1.What pathological condition does this patient have? Give a short description

2.List and define each of the patients presenting symptoms

3.Describe the results of the physicians examination

4.Explain what extragenital lesion means

5.Explain what palpation means

6. What is the potential effect of having this virus present in open genital lesion on the patients future pregnancy and child birth?

Answer 1

1. The pathological condition of this patient is genital herpes. It is a sexually transmitted disease. It causes sores that are painful and blisters like which can break and ooze fluid. The causative agent is herpes simplex virus. It is transmitted through bodily fluids like saliva, semen and vaginal discharge.
2. The patient is having the following symptoms:
• Fever: It is an increase in the body temperature than the normal temperature.
• Malaise: It is a sense of being unwell. It is an overall weakness and feeling discomfort.
• Dysuria: While urinating, the patient will have discomfort, pain or burning sensation.
• Vaginal leukorrhea: It is a thick, white or yellowish discharge from the vagina. It is a sign of an infection.
3. The results of the physician are:
• Fluid filled vesicles on cervix, vulva and perineum: This indicates that the patient is having herpes simplex virus infection. Fluid filled vesicles are sores that are filled with fluid. When ruptured it oozes out the fluid.
4. Extragenital lesion on mouth: The virus has also infected the oral region. It is due to autoinoculation. It is caused to due to touching the infected area with hands or using towels and using the same on non infected area.
5. Palpation is the process of touching or feeling with pressure exerted by the hands or fingers to examine the underlying organ to determine the size and consistency.
6. The potential effects are during pregnancy the infection can be transmitted to the baby when there is rupture of the lesion during vaginal delivery. It can also cause miscarriage or premature birth.