Case Study Analysis: A 16-year-old boy comes to clinic with chief complaint of sore throat for 3 days
The Assignment (1- to 2-page case study analysis)
Develop these 3 points in a 1- to 2-page case study analysis in which you:
· Explain why you think the patient presented the symptoms described.
· Identify the genes that may be associated with the development of the disease. (Strep infection, sex, and race to name a few options, Penicillin allergy, anaphylaxis)
· Explain the process of immunosuppression and the effect it has on body systems.
A 16-year-old boy comes to clinic with chief complaint of sore throat for 3 days. Denies fever or chills. PMH negative for recurrent colds, influenza, ear infections or pneumonias. NKDA or food allergies. Physical exam reveals temp of 99.6 F, pulse 78 and regular with respirations of 18. HEENT normal with exception of reddened posterior pharynx with white exudate on tonsils that are enlarged to 3+. Positive anterior and posterior cervical adenopathy. Rapid strep test performed in office was positive. His HCP wrote a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg po q 12 hours x 10 days disp #20. He took the first capsule when he got home and immediately complained of swelling of his tongue and lips, difficulty breathing with audible wheezing. 911 was called and he was taken to the hospital, where he received emergency treatment for his allergic reaction.
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Case Study Analysis
Due to the many variations in DNA, genetics has a role in all diseases, even common disorders. Some of these variations, alone or in combination with environmental factors, can predispose a person to one illness over another (Cavalli & Heard, 2019). Individual responses to pathogen infection are dictated by the genetics of the immune system, which differs significantly across the population. Furthermore, most illnesses are caused by a variety of genomic changes occurring over a person’s lifetime and can be influenced by environmental factors. This paper is based on the case study of a 16-year-old boy who complained of a sore throat. It discusses why the patient developed the symptoms, the genes involved, and the immunosuppressive process.
Symptoms
The patients had an inflammatory response to microbial infections and tested positive for streptococcus. According to studies, Inflammation arises when physiochemical barriers that function as the first line of defense against germs are breached to avert harm and enhance recovery, according to research. A reddish posterior pharynx with white discharge on the tonsils indicates an inflammatory response to infection. A claimant suffered an unfavorable reaction after taking amoxicillin capsules as directed, due to an anaphylactic reaction of the body to the medicine, which resulted in swelling of the lips and tongue, shortness of breath, and wheezing. According to research, amoxicillin can induce allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe. It is therefore vital to thoroughly assess the patient before delivering amoxicillin or any other penicillin-containing medication to confirm any pharmacological interactions that may occur. Furthermore, they must be informed of the importance of prescription adherence and advised on the need of reporting any adverse effects of medication. This is because anaphylaxis to a penicillin-containing drug can be fatal.
Physiologic Response to symptoms
Anaphylaxis is a systemic response involving many organ systems. It is most generally attached to exposure to the allergen and the release of mediators from mast cells and basophils. In children, peanuts and antibiotics can be substantial triggers of anaphylactic reactions mediated by basophils and mast cells. A rapid strep test confirmed that the patient was suffering from a bacterial infection which according to Brito et al. (2019), produces toxins that cause tissue damage, protect it from inflammation, and promote its growth. This disease-causing bacterium produces enzymes including lipases and proteolytic enzymes which protect them against systemic inflammation or natural immunity, while also attempting to undermine the afflicted region to promote easier entry. Group a strep pharyngitis is commonly transmitted from one person to another typically via saliva or nasal secretions. Treatment of an infected person with the right antibiotic such as amoxicillin within 24 hours or longer eliminates contagiousness.
Cells Involved
Mast cells and basophils are immune cells that have a role in inflammation and anaphylactic reactions (Kubo et al., 2018). These cells engage dendritic cells to elicit hypersensitivity in the cell-mediated immune reaction. Conversely, during an allergic reaction, basophils, in particular, stimulate eosinophilia, whereas mast cells create an inflammatory reaction via the release of histamine.
Gender and genetics
Most drugs can elicit drug hypersensitivity reactions, albeit the frequency, severity, and clinical symptoms vary. Case studies from diverse research have demonstrated that genetics influences antibiotic responses and is coupled to the IgE loop that gates to atopy upon gene replication (Pichler, 2022). Besides, the genetic variant signals penicillin and amoxicillin allergy.
References
Brito, C., Cabanes, D., Sarmento Mesquita, F., & Sousa, S. (2019). Mechanisms protecting host cells against bacterial pore-forming toxins. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 76(7), 1319-1339. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00018-018-2992-8
Cavalli, G., & Heard, E. (2019). Advances in epigenetics link genetics to the environment and disease. Nature, 571(7766), 489-499. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1411-0
Kubo, M. (2018). Mast cells and basophils in allergic inflammation. Current opinion in immunology, 54, 74-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coi.2018.06.006
Pichler, W. J. (2022). The important role of non‐covalent drug‐protein interactions in drug hypersensitivity reactions. Allergy, 77(2), 404-415. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14962