Women's and Men's Health: STDs and Anemia

Case Scenario Analysis
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Case Scenario Analysis
Healthcare service providers have to undertake disease analysis on their patients to establish the actual illness they could be suffering from. This analysis is essential as it incorporates significant variables that determine the symptoms shown to establish the correct illness for more accurate intervention. The analysis incorporates patient characteristics and racial and ethnic variables as influential factors towards disease management. A case scenario analysis of a 14-year old female helps elaborate the different symptoms that may manifest in people of different gender and age. This analysis aims to show the application of essential concepts in disease analysis.
Sexually transmitted infections can either directly or indirectly lead to infertility in both men and women. In the provided case scenario, the 14-year-old female has funny-looking red splotches on her legs, and according to her mother, she is recovering from a “bad case of mono” where she was on bed rest at home for the past three weeks. While the red splotches could be a result of any illness, the case of Mono is a sign that the illness could be a sexually transmitted disease since Mono is common among teenagers and is transmitted through saliva and bodily fluids (Cleveland Clinic). Available data indicates that infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), responsible for mononucleosis, is a potential trigger of ovarian failure (Virant-Klun & Vogler, 2018). Therefore, the patient might be suffering from an STD that could affect her fertility.
The signs of STDs are limited to the genitals and one’s gums. Because Mono is also known as a “kissing disease,” which is caused by the EBV, a member of the Herpes virus group, the primary symptom of herpes include swollen and irritated gums with painful sores around the mouth. In the provided case scenario, the girl noted that her gums were slightly bleeding after brushing, which could be a sign of inflammation of the mouth. The abnormal platelet count of 100,000/mm3 is a vital sign of a viral infection. According to Raadsen et al. (2021), this condition is called thrombocytopenia, signifying a low platelet count in many viral infections. However, the low platelet count could be associated with many other infections. Hence, the need to subject the patient to a further analysis of the blood sample for microscopic observation of any infections.
EBV is a common human virus that may affect over 98% of adults globally. According to Young and Lampe (2019), this infection often occurs in early childhood and is often asymptomatic. In the case scenario provided, the young girl is likely to be suffering from the EBV infection. Consequently, it would be necessary for the medical team to further assess the girl's symptoms. Some of the notable ones include fever, fatigue, malaise, sore throat, and lymphadenopathy. The infection may happen out of several cases, such as whether the girl shared her items, such as eating utensils and drinking glasses. The girl may also have caught it from someone else through coughing or sneezing since close contact that results in saliva excha...