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Using the following information, determine what the disease how the infant\'s il

ID: 69814 • Letter: U

Question

Using the following information, determine what the disease how the infant's illness might have been prevented: May 11: A 23-year-old woman has her first prenatal examination. She is months pregnant. Her VDRL results are negative. June 6: The woman returns to her physician complaining of a labial lesion of a few days'duration. A biopsy is negative for malignancy, an herpes test results are negative. July 1: The woman returns to her physician because the labial lesion continues to cause some discomfort. Sept. 15: The baby's father has multiple penile lesions and a generalized body rash. Sept. 25: The woman delivers her baby. Her RPR is 32, and the infant's is 128. Oct. 1: The woman takes her infant to a pediatrician because the baby is lethargic. She is told the infant is healthy and not to worry. Oct. 2: The baby's father has a persistent body rash and plantar and palmar rashes. Nov. 8: The infant becomes acutely ill with pneumonia and is hospitalized. The admitting physician finds signs of osteochondritis.

Explanation / Answer

From the symptoms the disease appears to be a sexually transmitted disease and is most probably a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Penile warts and lesions on genitals are hallmarks of this infection. The disease could have been prevented if protection such as latex condoms were used during intercourse. Also a vaccination would have helped prevent the disease.