At its core, pathology is the study of disease. Diseases occur for many reasons. But some, such as cystic fibrosis and Parkinson’s Disease, occur because of alterations that prevent cells from functioning normally.
Understanding of signals and symptoms of alterations in cellular processes is a critical step in diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. For the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), this understanding can also help educate patients and guide them through their treatment plans.
For this Discussion, you examine a case study and explain the disease that is suggested. You examine the symptoms reported and explain the cells that are involved and potential alterations and impacts.
Scenario 1: 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.PBy Day 3 of Week 1
Post an explanation of the disease highlighted in the scenario you were provided. Include the following in your explanation:
· The role genetics plays in the disease.
· Why the patient is presenting with the specific symptoms described.
· The physiologic response to the stimulus presented in the scenario and why you think this response occurred.
· The cells that are involved in this process.
· How another characteristic (e.g., gender, genetics) would change your response.
Scenario
1
:
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
H
CP
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
.
P
By
Day
3
of
Week
1
Post
an
explanation
of
the
disease
highlighted
in
the
scenario
you
were
provided.
Include
the
following
in
your
explanation:
·
The
role
genetics
plays
in
the
disease.
·
Why
the
patient
is
presenting
with
the
specific
symptoms
described.
·
The
physiologic
response
to
the
stimulus
presented
in
the
scenario
and
why
you
think
this
response
occurred.
·
The
cells
that
are
involved
in
this
process.
·
How
another
characteristic
(e.g.,
gender,
genetics)
would
change
your
response.