i need help with number 3. i think the disease is malaria Case #10 A 9-year-old
ID: 261739 • Letter: I
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i need help with number 3. i think the disease is malaria
Case #10 A 9-year-old boy was brought to the hospital by his parents with complaints of repeating intense chills and daily high fever for 4 days. The parents said that when his fevers would abate he would become drenched in sweat and feel exhausted and drained. The parents also reported diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain. On the day of admission, the patient was noted to be lethargic and difficult to arouse. A generalized seizure was witnessed in the emergency department. The family had immigrated to the United States from West Africa three weeks before the onset of the current illness. His vital signs reported a temperature of 40 °C, pulse 140/min, resting 28/min and blood pressure 82/40 mmHg. On exam, he was minimally responsive to verbal commands. His pupils were reactive and his neck was supple. His conjunctiva was pale and an abdominal exanm showed hepatosplenomegaly Laboratory studies showed a differential of 50% PMNs, 20% bands, 15% lymphs and his platelet count was 42,000/ul. His white blood cell count was 16,300/uL and his hematocrit was 18%. His blood gases were reported with a pH 7.28, pCO2 30 mmHg and pO2 64 mmHg. His serum chemistries showed glucose 40 mg/dL, BUN 45 mg/dL, AST 240 U/L, ALT 310 U/L, LDH 820 U/L and creatinine 2.6 mg/dL. A head CT was unremarkable The patient was admitted and required mechanical ventilation for impending respiratory failure. A lumbar puncture was performed, which was normal. Blood cultures were drawn and were negative for blood-borne pathogens. Based on the given history of travel thick and thin blood smears (Figure 1) were performed and yielded a diagnosis. Figure 1 1. What is the organism (genus and species) present in his blood smear? Why is it important to be able to determine the species of this organism? 2. Where is this organism endemic? 3. The organism infecting this patient is not endemic in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Northern Europe, or Japan, and almost all individuals infected in these region:s acquire it by travel to regions of endemicity. Give two explanations for how patients can obtain this infection in regions where it is NOT endemic.Explanation / Answer
1. The disease is malaria. Genus - plasmodium, species - falciparum
It is vector borne disease caused by the female anopheles mosquitoes which acts as vector for plasmodium.
The determination of species is necessary because all species are kot showing the same symptoms and also not prevented by the similar measures. So as to be more specific about disease we should know species.
2. It is endemic in mostly states of Africa continent, India, china, Brazil, Indonesia, malaysia, etc.
3. The two possible ways could be :-
1. To come in contact with the person who is already having this disease by any means.
2. People working in hospitals are also obtain disease easily.
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