MN573 - Inflammatory and Infectious Disorders of the Nose

MN573 

Topic: Inflammatory and Infectious Disorders of the Nose, Sinuses, Mouth, and Throat

Case Study:

A 48-year-old female patient presents to the facility complaining of headache and sore throat. The patient reports having a fever of 100.6°F in the last 24 hours, which returned to normal after she took 1,000 mg of acetaminophen. The patient has a history of seasonal allergies; however, she reports that they usually affect her in the spring, never accompanied by fever. As it is now October, the patient is concerned that she may be getting the flu. The patient reports receiving a flu shot at work but thinks the shot may have exposed her to the flu virus. Vital signs taken upon arrival are within normal limits with the exception of temperature, which is 101°F.

Please post your responses to the following questions in the Unit 5 Discussion Board.

Case Questions

1. Many of the symptoms reported lead you to suspect viral rhinitis as the cause of the patient's symptoms. What other symptoms reported by the patient would support your theory of viral rhinitis?

2. If the patient has viral rhinitis, what would you expect to see upon physical examination?

3. Feeling confident in your initial theory of viral rhinitis, you are still concerned about the patient reporting a previous fever and the fever noted upon arrival. When you inquire about any nasal discharge, the patient reports that the nasal discharge was clear when she first began sneezing; however, it has progressed to a thick, greenish-yellow color. Does this rule out viral rhinitis?

4. To relieve the symptoms experienced by the patient, what treatment regimen is indicated for this patient?