Case study 1
An 8-year old child complains of sore throat and pain when swallowing. Temperature reading is 101.2, indicating fever, and palpation of the cervical region indicated enlarged lymph nodes. Visual inspection of the posterior oral cavity shows enlarged tonsils.
1. What do you initially suspect and why?
2. Name the tonsils and their body locations.
3. A throat swab reveals the presence of streptococcus bacteria. Explain what is happening in the patient’s tonsils and lymph nodes in response to this bacterial pathogen.
4. Why is the patient’s temperature elevated? Explain the role of fever in the immune response.
5. What treatment would be given and why?
6. You learn this patient has a history of chronic tonsilitis. A tonsillectomy is considered.
a. What is a tonsillectomy?
b. What are two benefits to a tonsillectomy?
c. What are two risks associated with a tonsillectomy?
