A Case of Pharyngitis

A Case of Pharyngitis

By David F. Dean, Department of Biology, Spring Hill College

© National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, all rights reserved. Modified by Camille Freeman and used with permission.

Case Study Guidelines

* Answer each question using a maximum of 3 paragraphs. Many can be answered in one paragraph or less.

* Answer in your own words. Do not cut/paste from the internet or from your classmates’ responses in the forum.

* Be sure to cite your sources, including your textbook when applicable.

* Questions 3 and 5 (bold) require one or more peer-reviewed references. Peer-reviewed references are preferred but not required for all other questions.

* After you have submitted a draft of your assignment, you may access a discussion board where you can collaborate with other students who are working on this case. Please feel free to share ideas and resources.

* You may modify your submission any time before the due date.

* Your final submission is due by 11:55 pm ET on Saturday.

Case Presentation

Jason Hornbuckle is not a happy little boy. For the past 12 hours he has complained of pain when he swallows, has a headache, and has vomited twice. His mother decides to take the seven-year-old to his pediatrician. Upon examining Jason, the doctor finds that Jason’s pharynx, tonsils, and uvula are swollen and erythematous (red) and his tonsils are studded with white areas of exudate. He is febrile (temperature 40.3 degrees centigrade) with tender, bilateral, cervical lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes). A Complete Blood Count (CBC) performed on a sample of Jason’s blood reveals that he has a leukocytosis (increased number of WBC) due to a neutrophila (increased number of neutrophils). Jason is diagnosed as having acute bacterial pharyngitis and treated with phenoxymethyl penicillin for five days. A throat swab taken before starting antibiotics grows beta-hemolytic...