Introduction
Genetics, age, gender, and other characteristics can impact one’s response to common infections and diseases. In the presented case study, a 16-year-old boy comes into the office with a sore throat. The combination of symptoms and the results of a rapid strep test reveal an infection developed due to the bacteria Streptococcus A (Jiang et al., 2020). The prescription of amoxicillin results in an allergic reaction, which also greatly depends on one’s genetic proneness.
The present case demonstrates how specific characteristics influence one’s predisposition to certain conditions, requiring healthcare providers to consider the resulting symptoms and suggest potential treatments.
Main Discussion
The patient’s genetics play a significant role in the patient’s response to the bacterial infection. Streptococcus A is a group of bacteria that cause pharyngitis or sore throat (Jiang et al., 2020). These infections are common, and many people can be carriers without showing symptoms, while others develop a rapid response to the bacteria.
In this case, genetics determine one’s susceptibility to the infection, which leads to the development and severity of symptoms (McCance & Huether, 2019). As the patient comes to the clinic with specific symptoms, it is possible to assume that he is predisposed to becoming infected with streptococcus A.
Following this assessment, the symptoms present in the patient are also explained by the condition’s cause and genetics. Streptococcal pharyngitis has signs that are common for any infection, such as fever and swollen lymph nodes (Jiang et al., 2020).
Furthermore, as pharyngitis is an infection that affects one’s respiratory system, it manifests with enlarged tonsils, red color of the pharynx, and white exudate (Jiang et al., 2020). The boy’s reaction to the prescribed antibiotic is a sign of an allergy to amoxicillin. The symptoms – swollen lips and tongue, dyspnea, and wheezing – are indicative of a respiratory allergic reaction (Piotin et al., 2022). This is the reason the patient is presenting with the aforementioned symptoms after taking the suggested medication.
The physiologic response to the bacteria and the antibiotics can be reviewed in the case study. First, the initial stimulus that causes sore throat is streptococcus A. The bacteria invade the pharyngeal mucosa and cause inflammation, resulting in a sore throat. A typical presentation for these specific bacteria is tonsillar exudate and gland swelling, which are indicative of the growing bacterial culture (Jiang et al., 2020).
Similarly, such symptoms as fever and enlarged lymph nodes are caused by the body’s response to the infection. In particular, the activity causing fever occurs with the development of prostaglandins (PGE2), which affect neurons in the hypothalamus (Vaillant et al., 2022). As a result, thermoregulation increases the body temperature and triggers the response of the immune system.
Cells involved in the process of the immune response are white blood cells. Specifically, neutrophils respond to the inflammation and enter the bloodstream to reach the side of the infection. Macrophages are another type of white blood cell that is responsible for digesting foreign pathogens, such as infectious bacteria. Furthermore, T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells activate to produce antibodies to the streptococcus A (Vaillant et al., 2022). The involvement of these cells results in fever and other symptoms described in the case study.
Similarly, the allergic response to antibiotics is connected to the body’s immune system response. In this case, the antibiotic is recognized as a foreign body and treated in the same way as infectious bacteria. The body has allergen-specific T-cells, which react to the antibiotics and produce reactive cells that secrete specific antigens (Piotin et al., 2022). In turn, the reaction results in the switch to the production of IgE antibodies that cause symptoms common for allergic reactions (Piotin et al., 2022). Histamine and other mediators are responsible for such symptoms as dyspnea and swelling.
The patient’s characteristics are likely to change the response of the patient to the bacteria and the potential description of his condition. For example, the patient’s age is a trait that affects his chance of responding to the infection with apparent symptoms.
The prevalence of sore throat caused by the streptococcus A bacteria is higher among younger persons, including children and adolescents (Mponponsuo et al., 2021). This particular relationship between age and infection rates suggests an adjustment in antibiotic use, as younger patients may be reinfected more often than adults. Mponponsuo et al. (2021) also find that the infection is more common among female patients. This statistic may be used to diagnose and treat the condition accurately.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the patient in the presented case study can be diagnosed with streptococcal pharyngitis and an antibiotic allergy. The symptoms, such as fever, inflammation of the lymph nodes, and enlarged tonsils, indicate a bacterial infection common in children. The patient is likely predisposed to such conditions genetically, as many carriers of the disease do not have symptoms.
White blood cells are responsible for the reactions when bacteria and other harmful substances enter the body. They mediate the body’s immune response, which also explains the process of an allergic reaction when cells perceive drugs as foreign objects. Other characteristics, such as age and gender, may help the healthcare provider to determine what to prescribe and how to diagnose the infection.
References
Jiang, S., Li, M., Fu, T., Shan, F., Jiang, L., & Shao, Z. (2020). Clinical characteristics of infections caused by Streptococcus anginosus group. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 9032. Web.
McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). Mosby/Elsevier.
Mponponsuo, K., Church, D. L., Lu, S. J., Viczko, J., Naugler, C., McDonald, T., Dickinson, J., & Somayaji, R. (2021). Age and sex-specific incidence rates of group A streptococcal pharyngitis between 2010 and 2018: a population-based study. Future Microbiology, 16(14), 1053-1062. Web.
Piotin, A., Godet, J., Trubiano, J. A., Grandbastien, M., Guénard-Bilbault, L., de Blay, F., & Metz-Favre, C. (2022). Predictive factors of amoxicillin immediate hypersensitivity and validation of PEN-FAST clinical decision rule. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 128(1), 27-32. Web.
Vaillant, A. A. J., Vashisht, R., & Zito, P. M. (2022). Immediate hypersensitivity reactions. StatPearls. Web.