Influenza
Case study
Peter Smith, a 19-year-old university student, was suffering from influenza and visited his local GP. He said he began to feel unwell two days earlier and his condition had worsened since, with an acute onset of a sore throat (pharyngitis). On examination the following observations were made: – Fever of 38.9 degrees C – Runny nose – Sneezing – Enlarged anterior cervical lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) Peter’s throat was observed to have the following signs: – Redness – Swollen – Having a patchy covering of yellow-white exudate over his tonsils The doctor prescribed phenoxymethylpenicillin 500 mg twice per day for ten days.
This template must be used to answer the case study.
(Please type your answers within the box underneath each question)
Student name (LAST NAME first name):
Student number:
Campus:
Tutorial session (time and room no.):
Tutor’s name:
- Fever development and benefits (Total: 5 marks)
1.1 What is fever? Explain how Peter’s fever developed.
Fever is the temporary rise in body temperature above the standard 37°C. It occurs when the body heats up as it responds to viral and bacterial attacks. When a virus or bacteria enters the body, the body responds by producing white blood cells to fight them. The increased production of these white blood cells triggers a reaction from the hypothalamus, which causes the body to heat, hence the fever. In Peter’s case, when the influenza virus entered his body, the production of white blood cells began in an attempt to kill the virus. The rise in his body temperature was a response from his immune system to make the environment unbearable for the virus.
1.2 State, with explanation, two benefits of fever.
Although having a fever could be an uncomfortable feeling, it comes with some benefits. First and foremost, fever signifies an increase in body temperature, which makes it hard for the virus or bacteria to survive in the body. Fever helps the body to effectively fight infections, given that the viruses and bacteria struggle at the increased temperatures. In addition, fever activates the immune system, making it easier to fight diseases. When the body temperatures rise, the white blood cells can effectively fight the bacteria or viruses, causing the infection. Therefore, fever is an essential tactic in the body’s immune system, as it prepares to fight various bacteria or virus.
- Prescription, mode of action and effectiveness of Phenoxymethylpenicillin. (Total: 10 marks)
2.1 Given that influenza is caused by a virus, why was Peter prescribed an antibiotic?
Influenza is an infection caused by a virus. Like most viruses, the influenza virus has no cure. Doctors have to treat the symptoms associated so as to help the body to fight the disease. In Peter’s case, although it was clear that he was suffering from influenza, the doctor had no choice but to prescribe antibiotics to slow down the infection, as the body fought the virus on its own. Notably, the prescribed antibiotics were for helping Peter to relieve the pain. As well, the antibiotics served as anti-inflammatory drugs for the swollen tonsils. These antibiotics were crucial in helping Peter’s immune system fight the infection.
2.2 The doctor prescribed Phenoxymethylpenicillin.
Discuss the mode of action of Phenoxymethylpenicillin.
Phenoxymethylpenicillin is an antibiotic drug used to treat various bacterial infections. It can also be used to prevent bacterial infections, as prescribed by health officials. Once the drug is administered orally, it starts to function immediately, although the patient could start feeling the change after two days. Phenoxymethylpenicillin is rich in penicillin, and when used, it causes a bactericidal action. Since the bacteria are sensitive to penicillin, the drug inhibits synthesis of the bacteria’s cell-wall peptidoglycan during active multiplication stage. Through this action, Phenoxymethylpenicillin weakens the bacteria and slows down their multiplication in the body.
2.3 Explain why antibiotics are not effective against viruses.
Antibiotics are drugs used for the treatment of bacterial infections only. Due to the fact that viruses are non-living things, they do not undergo the same processes as bacteria during multiplication. Using antibiotics to treat viral diseases does not work simply because the antibiotics cannot inhibit any multiplication process for the virus. Notably, viruses are very simple organisms and use their host’s cells to carry out their activities. Since they lack cells, antibiotics cannot infiltrate the viruses to interfere with their cell processes, or kill them. This makes antibiotics utterly useless on viruses because they have no target to attack.
- Spreading of influenza and breaking its mode of transmission. (Total: 5 marks)
3.1 Name and describe two (2) possible ways that Peter could have contracted the influenza virus (modes of transmission).
According to the World Health Organization, the Influenza virus can be transmitted through the following three ways: Inhalation of the virus through contaminated droplets, coming into contact with an infected person or making contact with a contaminated object. In this case, Peter could have contracted the virus from inhaling contaminated air, whereby an infected person coughs releasing contaminated droplets in the air. If these droplets were inhaled or falls on his body, Peter could have been infected in the process. As well, he could have contracted the virus by coming into contact with an infected person in school or at home. This contact could have been in the form of handshaking, kissing, or any other form of contact that could facilitate the exchange of infected droplets.
3.2 Identify and explain two (2) ways by which the modes of transmission could be broken
Given that the diversified nature transmission of the Influenza virus, it is hard to control its spread effectively. Careful measures should be considered in order to prevent the spreading of the virus. For instance, people should observe better coughing and sneezing hygiene when in public or crowded areas. This can be done by using a handkerchief to prevent releasing of infected droplets into the air. Covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing could reduce the transmission of the virus by a large percentage. Washing of hands thoroughly with soap and running water is also another way of breaking the transmission of this deadly virus. It helps to get rid of any viruses found on hand’s surface after touching contaminated surfaces.
- Physiological basis of the three signs of the disease in Peter’s throat (Total: 10 marks)
4.1 Describe the physiological basis of the first sign in Peter’s throat. Relate your response to this case study.
The first sign in Peter’s throat was redness. This redness is as a result of his throat cells being destroyed by the Influenza virus. Given that the throat has lymph nodes that are responsible for filtering disease-causing micro-organisms, they are the first to be attacked by the virus when inhaled. The virus, therefore, attacks the lymph cells weakening them, as the immune system tries to fight the virus. Given that this viral infection is not curable, it often disappears after a few days as the body fights the virus. The reddish colour appears because the virus destroys the membranes and most cells in the lymph glands found in the throat.
4.2 Describe the physiological basis of the second sign in Peter’s throat. Relate your response to this case study.
The second sign in Peter’s throat was swelling. When the virus is introduced into the body through the mouth or nasal cavity, lymph gland in the throat area filter the fluid to destroy or remove the infection from the body. Since the virus cannot be killed by the lymphatic cells in the lymph nodes, it attacks the cells causing inflammation in the lymph glands. Swollen lymph nodes are not a cause of worry as they are an indication that the body’s immune system is working to neutralize the infection. The swollen lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system that regulates fluids in the body and filters disease-causing pathogens, thus increasing the body’s ability to fight diseases.
4.3 Describe the physiological basis of the third sign in Peter’s throat. Relate your response to this case study.
The third symptom on Peter’s throat was a patchy covering of yellow-white exuding over his tonsils. Tonsils are part of the body lymphatic system that transports body fluids rich in wastes, toxins, and dead cells. It also transports white blood cells in various parts of the body to fight disease-causing pathogens. Peter’s throat appeared to have yellow-white patchy covering because his body was fighting the influenza virus, and wastes and toxins were accumulating in the lymph glands. The yellow-white patches could have been an indication that there was an accumulation of pus in his tonsils at the back of the throat, as a result of the infection.
- Replication of micro-organisms (Total: 5 marks)
5.1 Compare and contrast the processes by which viruses and bacteria replicate
Viruses and bacteria have different ways of replication. Although both are microbial pathogens that live in the host’s body and cause infections, they have distinctive ways of reproduction. Bacteria are living micro-organisms and undergo normal cellular replicating process known as Binary fission. The process begins when a single cell divides into two identical cells. Binary fission takes place once the chromosome of the bacteria starts dividing into two straps. On the other hand, the virus cannot replicate on their own and have to depend on the host’s cells for the replication process. This is because they are very simple organisms and lack all the necessary cells to replicate. Therefore, viruses have to attach themselves on to the cells of the hosts to replicate. In most cases, viruses need to attach on the nuclei of the host’s cell, where they can inject their genetic material for replication before being released.
References
Lehne, R. A. (2013). Pharmacology for nursing care. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Presentation (Total: 5 marks)
6.1 Referencing in-text and in reference list conforms to APA 7th Ed. referencing style.
6.2 Critique supported by relevant literature as prescribed.
6.3 Correct sentence structure, paragraph, grammatical construction, spelling, punctuation and presentation.