Reference no: EM132496801

Lacey's Illness

Lacey is a first-year pharmacy student who has a lot going on in her personal life. Besides the pressures of studying and financial concerns, she is mourning the loss of her scarlet macaw, Johnny. She also has some health issues of her own that she is trying to deal with.

She lives with her roommate, Diana. "Diana, I just don't know how much more I can take right now! I'm having a really hard time dealing with the loss of Johnny. My vet recommended performing an autopsy since he died of unknown causes, but I really can't afford to do it. He was always so healthy until we moved here. Do you think the stress of moving and me spending less time with him because I'm studying all of the time had a negative effect on him?"

"Don't be so hard on yourself. Maybe it was just his time to go and it has nothing to do with the move. Besides, think about the bargain we got on this place because of the flood damage it suffered a few years ago! It's so quiet out here away from the hustle and bustle plus the rent is so low. It will make it much easier to pay off our student loans once we finish pharmacy school. Speaking of school, how did you do on the test on antimicrobials this morning?"

"Not very well. I just can't seem to be able to concentrate right now. My coughing had me up a lot last night because of my asthma. I'm also having a little bit of chest pain. Sometimes I feel out of breath and I've lost my appetite a little bit. I seem to be more tired than usual also. Right now, I really need to study, but all I feel like doing is taking a nap."

Later that week, Lacey's condition became worse. She started wheezing, developed a low-grade fever and chills, felt nauseated, and noticed what appeared to be some blood-tinged mucus when she coughed. She felt tired and started wondering if she was becoming depressed. She decided to go to her doctor.

Questions

1. Besides asthma, what else might be wrong with Lacey? Name at least two infections/diseases, the causative agent if it is an infectious disease, and why you decided on these infections/diseases.

2. What types of test(s) should be performed to determine what is causing her illness?

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