Ann, a 41 year-old teacher who prided herself on not visiting a doctor in more t

Question

Ann, a 41 year-old teacher who prided herself on not visiting a doctor in more than 15 years, has been having difficulty with a persistent cough. Ann described the condition as beginning with a runny nose and slight fever for a week and a half followed by a cough that has continued for more than three weeks. The cough is progressively worse in the evenings and it can become so severe that it causes her to vomit. After more than a month of symptoms, Ann has shown up in your waiting room. What do you think is wrong with Ann? Would antibiotics help Ann? Do you have any other recommendations for her?

Explanation / Answer

If the cough is persistant more than three weeks, our immediate suspection is TB(Tubercukosis), So need to send her for investigations like

-Mantoux tuberculin skin test

- Sputum smear microscopy test

-Chest x-ray

If the tests are positive for TB, we should put her on TB course of antibiotics for 6months.

Two month intensive TB treatment phase followed by a four month continuation phase. For the two month intensive TB treatment phase they should receive:

followed by

If the test are negative for TB, we can treat her with Cefixime - it is an antibiotic useful to treat a number of bacterial infections. This includes otitis media, strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, gonorrhea, and Lyme disease.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.