Question

A 22-year old male college student was presented at the ESU health clinic. He looked tired and pale. He presented because of high fever and chest pain. He was afraid he was having a heart attack (bad week of exams). He was examined immediately by the PA and an EKG strip was run. He had no evidence of acute heart problems. The attending physician visited the patient. He obtained the following history from the past 36 hours. The patient had a tight cough. He had significant muscle aches and pains. He had a bad headache and had had fevers of 101-103F. The physician ordered a chest x-ray. It did not show any significant consolidated inflammation suggestive of pneumonia. The patient showed significant nasal drainage and a moderately tight, but productive cough on physical exam. He had a fever of 101F and generally inflamed mucous membranes. A rapid Strep test showed no evidence of Streptococcal infection and his tonsils and adenoids had been removed. What is the most likely diagnosis for this patient? On what do you base this diagnosis? What secondary infection problems should be monitored? What is the preferred treatment for this disease?

Answer 1

Answer:

Pneumonia may be defined as the medical condition in which the inflammation might occur in the lungs due to which the fluid might accumulate in the lungs. The infection might occur by the Streptococcus penumoniae bacteria.

The most likely diagnosis of this patient can be influenza. The symptoms shown by the patient like cough, fever, headache, lung pain is more common in influenza. The diagnosis can be based on the symptoms shown by the patient and no presence of the Streptococcal infection. This conditions can be worsened if the pneumonia follow the harsh influenza and this secondary infection must be monitored.  The treatment that can be preferred in this patient bed rest, anti pyretic medicines and proper body fluids.