Introduction
Understanding the specifics of various diseases is necessary for their correct diagnosis and comprehensive care for patients. To do this, a healthcare provider must have theoretical knowledge and practical skills that will help identify the problem and find the optimal treatment. Many diseases can have similar characteristics, making them difficult to diagnose. Moreover, communication with the patient is an essential element that helps identify risk factors and establish an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, this paper analyzes three case studies of different diseases to identify their distinctive characteristics and causes.
Arthritis
Case Description
A 12-year-old boy experiences joint pain after soccer practice, with pain worsening in the morning but improving throughout the day.
Genetical Factor of Arthritis
Genetics can significantly increase the risk of developing arthritis in patients of different ages. Padyukov (2022) notes that the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus may be a predetermining genetic factor for the development of the disease. These genes can be formed due to mutations or transmitted to children from parents. A family history of autoimmune diseases or arthritis puts children at higher risk. Moreover, the immune system and its ability to activate T cells that suppress peptides play a significant role in the development of arthritis (Padyukov, 2022). Additionally, interactions between different genes may influence an individual’s susceptibility to arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Depending on the disease’s causes, location, and symptoms, arthritis is divided into osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that affects all components of the joint, primarily cartilage, but also subchondral bone tissue, synovium, ligaments, joint capsule, and periarticular muscles (Cai et al., 2019). It can happen for various reasons, such as age, weight, injury, regular heavy load on the joints, or other diseases.
The main symptoms of this disease are pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, and sometimes the formation of bone spurs (Cai et al., 2019). Osteoarthritis develops gradually and is usually associated with aging and wear and tear of the joints. It is the most common type of arthritis, which progresses quite quickly and, in severe cases, can lead to deformity and serious impairment of joint function.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Unlike OA, rheumatoid arthritis has significantly more severe consequences for patients. It is an autoimmune disease in which the inflammatory process leads to progressive destruction of joints and damage to internal organs (Padyukov, 2022). It most often begins in the small joints of the hands and feet and spreads symmetrically to other joints.
In addition, RA has more severe symptoms, including severe pain, prolonged morning stiffness, weakness, fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite (Cai et al., 2019). It can affect internal organs, which leads to significant complications in the condition of patients. Both types of arthritis are incurable, which means intervention should be aimed at reducing the severity of symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease.
Erysipelas and Cellulitis
Case Description
A 79-year-old male presents with a fever and a red, warm, and tender spot on his left calf.
Case Analysis
Erysipelas and cellulitis are skin infections caused by bacteria, often streptococci or staphylococci. They have standard features, but there are also distinctive features that help differentiate them. Based on the symptoms described in a 79-year-old man, the most likely diagnosis is cellulitis.
Cellulite typically has less defined boundaries than erysipelas, and the affected area may be warm, red, and tender (Drerup et al., 2020). Moreover, the absence of a clearly defined raised border suggests cellulite. With erysipelas, the patient’s redness or rash has clear boundaries and is raised above the skin’s surface. In addition, both diseases are characterized by high fever and chills, which the patient reported.
Even though the symptoms identified during the examination suggest that the patient has cellulite, laboratory tests are necessary to establish a more accurate diagnosis. Streptococcus usually causes erysipelas, while cellulitis can also be caused by other bacteria (Drerup et al., 2020). Therefore, blood tests, such as bacterial cultures, will help more clearly determine the disease and its causes. Moreover, this analysis will help develop an optimal treatment plan to address the bacteria that led to the disease.
Candidiasis
Case Description
Sally, a 43-year-old woman, goes for a routine checkup. Her doctor notices white patches inside her mouth, which Sally also observed but wasn’t concerned about as it didn’t hurt. After further questioning, the doctor discovers she has been on antibiotics for over a week.
The Correct Diagnosis
White spots in Sally’s mouth may be a sign of oral Candidiasis. Moreover, this diagnosis is supported by the recent use of antibiotics, which disrupt the average balance of microorganisms in the body, including beneficial bacteria that help control Candida (Hellstein & Marek, 2019). In a typical environment, this bacterium inhibits the development of fungal infections in the body. However, antibiotics have a neutralizing effect on both negative and positive bacteria, suppressing their functions. The main symptoms of Candidiasis are the appearance of a white coating on the tongue and cheeks, as well as small white spots (Hellstein & Marek, 2019).
Treatment Plan
Treatment for Candidiasis usually involves medication to suppress fungal infection. It may include antifungals such as nystatin (Hellstein & Marek, 2019). The doctor determines the course of treatment depending on the degree of infection in the patient.
Prevention of the Outbreak
Preventing the occurrence of Candidiasis is possible with proper prophylaxis while taking medications. Often, along with antibiotics, patients are prescribed antifungal medications to prevent disease symptoms (Hellstein & Marek, 2019). Considering that the patient noted that the white spots that appeared in the oral cavity did not cause her significant discomfort, the disease could be prevented without drug intervention. It involves practicing good oral hygiene to reduce the amount of fungus on the mucous membranes (Hellstein & Marek, 2019). Moreover, drinking enough water and adding probiotic-rich foods to the person’s diet is essential to restore the balance of microorganisms.
Another important aspect is communication between the patient and the healthcare provider. Considering that the doctor was unaware of the use of antibiotics, it is possible that the patient used the drugs independently without an appropriate prescription. Moreover, Sally did not report any white spots in her mouth. If the doctor had not paid attention to them during the examination, the patient’s Candidiasis could have worsened and caused adverse consequences for her general health condition. Sally should have consulted a doctor when she noticed any changes that were different from usual.
Conclusion
This paper analyzed 3 case studies of different patients to identify the distinctive characteristics, risk factors, and causes of various diseases. In the first case, knowledge of the genetic factors influencing the development of arthritis, as well as the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, is critical to establishing the correct diagnosis. Moreover, even though both diseases are incurable, and their therapy is aimed at slowing progress and reducing symptoms, the specificity of the disorder determines the optimal intervention for the patient.
In addition to OA and RA, erysipelas and cellulitis have similar characteristics, manifesting as skin redness, swelling, and high fever and chills in patients. The most effective way to diagnose these diseases accurately is to conduct laboratory tests. Finally, the third point emphasizes the importance of effective communication between the patient and healthcare provider and adherence to recommendations when taking medications.
References
Cai, P., Jiang, T., Li, B., Qin, X., Lu, Z., Le, Y., Shen, C., Yang, Y., Zheng, L., & Zhao, J. (2019). Comparison of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) based on microarray profiles of human joint fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Cell Biochemistry & Function, 37(1), 31-41. Web.
Drerup, C., Eveslage, M., Sunderkoetter, C., & Ehrchen, J. (2020). Diagnostic value of laboratory parameters for the discrimination between erysipelas and limited cellulitis. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, 18(12), 1417-1424. Web.
Hellstein, J.W., & Marek, C.L. (2019). Candidiasis: Red and white manifestations in the oral cavity. Head and Neck Pathology, 13(1), 25-32. Web.
Padyukov L. (2022). Genetics of rheumatoid arthritis. Seminars in Immunopathology, 44(1), 47-62. Web.