Question

Choose two infections caused by different pathogens that have similar symptoms. Examples include two diarrheal diseases such as norovirus and Campylobacter jejuni or two respiratory infections such as the common cold and influenza.

What is the organism, etiology, transmission, symptoms, clinical signs, treatment, and prognosis of each disease?

What examinations, diagnostic tests, or characteristics of the organisms would allow medical professionals to distinguish between the two and deliver an accurate diagnosis to the patient?

If the patient were misdiagnosed with one infection while they actually have the other, how would they be treated and what would be the effect (or absence of effect) of the treatment? How can clinicians attain more accuracy in diagnosis and treatment for disease?

Resources

Is it a Cold, Flu or Allergy
https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/10/cold-flu-or-allergy

Answer 1

common cold,flu affecting respiratory system..common cold and flu are caused by different viruses..but both having same illnesses like runny,stuffy nose,congestion ,cough and sore throat..but flu have fever and last for 3-4 days along with fatigue and body pain..
Flu also known as influenza an acute contageous respiratory infection caused by orthomyxo viruses A,B and C occurs in local out breaks,epidemics and pandemics..
common cold caused by Rhinovirus..Rhinovirus more active in early falls,spring and summer..
Transmission of common cold due to cold weather.same viruses that produces cold..it can spresd through person-to -person contact,when the infected person touches the nose,mouth,eyes the virus spread to the hands,,sharing things with infected person other can get infection..
Influenza trasmission by viruses easily transmitted through water droplet in the air when infected person sneeze or cough..it can spread through hand-to -hand contact also..
common cold symptoms are head ache,body pain,fatigue,stuffy,runny nose,sneezing,cough,chest discomfort..
Flu symptoms are high grade fever more than 102 degree F for 3-4days,chills,head ache,body pain,fatigue,waekness,runny nose,cough,chest discomfort..
common cold treatment: Get plenty of rest and drink more water,decongestantsa can be used..Aspirin,acetaminophen or ibuprofen for aches and pains..
Flu treatment:
   Drink plenty of water,take more rest,acetaminophen or ibuprofen(advil,motrin for fever and aches
Prognosis of flu: fever,exhausion and aches and pains can be settle in one week or two week,but older peolple with poor immune system it will be serious..
Prognosis for common cold: Recovery period one week depends upon the age and over all immune system of the patient..
Diagnosis of common cold: Physician may start with physical exam and medical exam,he can ask about symptoms and duration period..he will check lungs,ears,throat..he may do throat culture to determine the bacterial infection,X ray chest and complete blood count will be helpful..
Diagnosis of Flu:
Rapid flu test,influenza rapid Antigen test,Type A and B antigen detection,H1N1,rapid influenza diagnostic test,influenza viral culture,inflenza virus by PCR.
   Symptomatic treatment for flu and common cold will reduce the symptoms if it is misdiagnosed with one infection while they have the others..Antibiotics can not be help flu symptoms but it can help for common cold,the flu is caused by virus,antibiotics can treat only bacterial infections,taking antibiotics may lead to antobiotics resists in later..If you get secondary bacterial infection with flu virus,antibiotics can be helpful..cold misdiagnosed as a flu and flu misdiagnosed as a cold can cause complications like pneumonia..Always secondary diagnostic test will be helpful to determine the particular disease..