An 18-year-old college freshman complained of a cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis. The physician in the campus health center noticed small white lesions inside the patient’s mouth. The next day, a confluent red rash covered his face and neck.
1. What clinical characteristics of this case were diagnostic for measles?
2. Are any laboratory tests readily available to confirm the diagnosis? If so, what are they?
3. Is there a possible treatment for this patient?
4. When was this patient contagious?
5. Why is this disease not common in the United States?
6. Provide several possible reasons for this person’s susceptibility to measles at 18 years of age.
A 13-month-old child had a runny nose, mild cough, and low-grade fever for several days. The cough got worse and sounded like “barking.” The child made a wheezing sound when agitated. The child appeared well except for the cough. A lateral radiograph of the neck showed a subglottic narrowing.
7. What are the specific and common names for these symptoms?
8. What other agents would cause a similar clinical presentation (differential diagnosis)?
9. Are there readily available laboratory tests to confirm this diagnosis? If so, what are they?
10. Was there a possible treatment for this child?
11. When was this child contagious, and how was the virus transmitted?