Question

A lethargic 22-month old black female was presented by her mother to the emergency room at 2:15am on a Sunday. The child had a history of a runny nose, hoarse cough and low-grade fever (~99F) for the past 48 hours. The mother was concerned about the forced and noisy breathing of the child. The pediatrician examined the child and found cloudy eyes and mild inflammation of the ears, but no overt signs of bacterial infection (no significant changes in the eardrums). The throat of the child was red and coated with mucus. The larynx was swollen and raw.

The physician performed a rapid Strep test and found it was negative. Throat swabs were taken for culture. The physician placed the child in a room with a warm vaporizer for about 30 minutes. This dramatically improved the breathing of the child.

1. What is the presumptive diagnosis for this case? (1 point)

2. Will the throat cultures likely show evidence of Streptococcus pyogenes? How about Staphylococcus aureus? (2 points)

3. Do you believe that this is a bact erial or viral disease? Why? (2 points)

4. What further treatment is indicated for this case? (1 point)

Answer 1

1. Presumptive diagnosis was that this child is facing the problem of sore throat and swollen larynx.

2. Yes, the throat culture will show the evidence of streptococcus pyrongens. No, this could not be case of streptococcus aureus.

3. This infection is caused by bacterial infection because when the child is kept in warm room it decreases it's infection. Because bacteria can work in some specific range of temperature.

4. Treatment of this infection include antibiotics like penicillin ,amoxicillin