Five years ago, a patient presented again to her PCP, this time complaining of a

Question

Five years ago, a patient presented again to her PCP, this time complaining of a productive cough and stiffness and pain in her hands and feet that seemed to come and go to affect different joints. she is afraid that she is developing rheumatoid arthritis like her older sister. Her BP at this time was 140/90, HR 105 and she has a temperature of 100 degrees F. Auscultation of the lungs revealed abnormal lung sounds, suggesting that she had bronchitis. A chest x-ray revealed mild pulmonary edema but no white blood cell infiltrates in the terminal airways. The PCP was concerned about susceptibility for developing pneumonia. Axillary and inguinal lymph nodes were slightly enlarged. Why might the PCP be concerned about the possibility for pneumonia? What is the pathophysiology that underlies lymph node enlargement in this patient?

Explanation / Answer

1. The patient is complaining of persistent fever with productive cough and physical examination reveals evidence of bronchitis which helps the primary care physician to suspect it as development of pneumonia . Also patient is having enlarged axillary and inguinal lymph nodes it confirms the diagnosis along with the help of signs of pulmonary edema as reveals in the x rays chest.

2. Lymph node enlargement in pneumonia is a symptom which helps the physician to confirm the diagnosis . It happens due to the infiltration of infection causing bacteria by these lymph nodes and they get inflammated and enlarged.

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