• Unit 2 case studies:
Case study 1: (3 points)
Sara always wanted a pet as a child but never had approval from
her parents. When she graduated from college and moved into an
apartment, she decided to get a cat. A few weeks later, Sara
started not feeling well. She has a runny nose, is congested, and
is sneezing a lot.
1. What disease might Sara have?
Possibly a common cold. However, she may be experiencing a
hypersensitive reaction like allergic rhinitis triggered by cat
dander.
2. What do you recommend as treatment?
Rehoming the cat may be an option. Otherwise, a daily non
drowsy H1-antihistamine and for severe reactions an
antihistamine like diphenhydramine.
Allergy testing can be done, but this is often very expensive.
Case Study 2: (4 points)
Ben is a 25-year-old man who had been recently immobile for 6
weeks. He has been in a plaster cast for a left sided Achilles
tendon injury, and the cast was removed last week. He suddenly
complains of dyspnea and chest pain and is coughing up blood-
streaked sputum.
1. What disease might Ben have?
I would suggest a pulmonary embolism (PE).
2. What is the probable cause of the disease?
Case study 1: (3 points)
Sara always wanted a pet as a child but never had approval from
her parents. When she graduated from college and moved into an
apartment, she decided to get a cat. A few weeks later, Sara
started not feeling well. She has a runny nose, is congested, and
is sneezing a lot.
1. What disease might Sara have?
Possibly a common cold. However, she may be experiencing a
hypersensitive reaction like allergic rhinitis triggered by cat
dander.
2. What do you recommend as treatment?
Rehoming the cat may be an option. Otherwise, a daily non
drowsy H1-antihistamine and for severe reactions an
antihistamine like diphenhydramine.
Allergy testing can be done, but this is often very expensive.
Case Study 2: (4 points)
Ben is a 25-year-old man who had been recently immobile for 6
weeks. He has been in a plaster cast for a left sided Achilles
tendon injury, and the cast was removed last week. He suddenly
complains of dyspnea and chest pain and is coughing up blood-
streaked sputum.
1. What disease might Ben have?
I would suggest a pulmonary embolism (PE).
2. What is the probable cause of the disease?
