Scenario 1:
Jennifer is a 2-year-old female who presents
with her mother. Mom is concerned because Jennifer has been “running a
temperature” for the last 3 days. Mom says that Jennifer is usually
healthy and has no significant medical history…
Jack is a 27-year-old
male who presents with redness and irritation of his hands. He reports that he
has never had a problem like this before, but about 2 weeks ago he noticed that
both his hands seemed to be really red and flaky…
Martha is a 65-year-old
woman who recently retired from her job as an administrative assistant at a
local hospital. Her medical history is significant for hypertension, which has
been controlled for years with hydrochlorothiazide…
·
Identify the pathophysiology of these disorders
and include their associated alterations. Also consider adaptive responses to
the alterations.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this assignment, we will be discussing the pathophysiology of three different disorders and their associated alterations. Additionally, we will also be considering adaptive responses to these alterations.
Answer:
For Jennifer, her symptoms of running a temperature for three days may indicate an infection. The pathophysiology of an infection involves the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in the body. This can lead to various alterations such as fever, inflammation, and immune cell activation. The adaptive response to these alterations includes the recruitment of immune cells to fight off the infection and the production of antibodies to prevent future infections.
In the case of Jack, his symptoms of redness and irritation of his hands may be indicative of contact dermatitis. The pathophysiology of contact dermatitis involves an allergic or irritant reaction to a substance that comes in contact with the skin. This can lead to alterations such as inflammation, itching, and redness. The adaptive response to these alterations includes the activation of the immune system to identify and eliminate the allergen or irritant and the healing of the affected skin.
For Martha, her history of hypertension and use of hydrochlorothiazide may indicate electrolyte imbalances such as hypokalemia. The pathophysiology of hypokalemia involves a decrease in potassium levels leading to alterations such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and arrhythmias. The adaptive response to these alterations includes the activation of compensatory mechanisms such as the retention of sodium and water by the kidneys to maintain blood pressure and the release of aldosterone to promote potassium retention.
