Question

The next day, Mr. Olaf woke early to symptoms of continued swelling as well as pain with blistering, warmth to the touch in the area where his forearm was cut and what appeared to be a spreading red rash. He also was experiencing a fever of 101.1 F immediately made another appointment with his physician to address the issue.

If you were Mr. Olaf’s physician what tests might you perform in order to find signs related to his condition to help you determine a diagnosis? List and describe two specific clinical tests that might provide helpful information.

Answer 1

Mr. Olaf woke up to symptoms of swelling and painful blisters on his cut. Also, he recorded a rash that was spreading and had a fever of 101.1 F.

If I was a physician, I would perform diagnosis in a given way.

1. I would check for physical signs and symptoms:

I got, a. The rash was spreading.

b. Painful blisters, swelling across the cut.

c. Fever of 101.1 F.

Now, after looking for the physical symptoms, I got to know that the person is suffering from some kind of infection. As it clearly shows rash and fever which are due to the result of inflammation after the entrance of the foreign body through the cut which the patient has got.

2. Mostly, skin infections are due to bacterial, or fungal and are caused due to superficial skin bacteria or due to some allergic spores which may lead to allergic reactions.

3. The clinician may ask to do the blood culture if the infection has spread to the blood and the pattern of growth and appearance on the agar plate will be compared with bacterial or fungal growth.

4. But. mostly clinicians prefer to go fast, so they go for a blood test with antibiotics. As certain bacteria and fungi are mostly resistant to antibiotics whereas some are not. The result is also obtained within 24 hours of the test, which allows us to keep a check on the spread of the infection and according to the presence of certain infection antibiotics or antifungal medicines are given to the patient.

5. Mostly the infection are due to, staphylococcus or streptococcus, which are present on the superficial skin surface or fungal infection.

6. Blood cell count: WBC (White Blood Cell) count is recorded, as WBC count increases during allergic response or infection.

7. If the infection seems severe, the biopsy of the infected part is taken and checked for any other symptoms, if any of the above tests are not clear.

I hope this answer help you!