Pathophysiology of adaptive response mechanisms

Pathophysiology- Adaptive Response
The body has a natural adaptive response that allows it to cope with both internal and external environments. Adaptive responses in the medical and healthcare field are commonly referred to as signs and symptoms and they play a crucial role in that they help health practitioners to discern the underlying conditions, thus diagnose the disorder to be treated/managed (Huether, McCance & Parkinson, 2013). This paper is a discussion of pathophysiology based on three given case ill-health manifestations. The provided signs and symptoms will be used to determine the possible health disorder then discourse the pathogenesis in explaining the visible manifestations. The paper also presents a tonsillitis mind map that includes epidemiology, pathophysiology, associated risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and adaptive responses. It has been determined that the health condition for case one is tonsillitis, for case two it is contact dermatitis, and case three it is stress response.
Scenario 1: Tonsillitis
It is determined that Jennifer is suffering from Tonsillitis mainly because of the erythematous throat, the 4+ swollen tonsils and diffuse exudates, palpable and tender to touch anterior cervical nodes. Tonsillitis is when the pharyngeal tonsils swell and the swelling can extend to lingual and the adenoid tonsils. The disorder can be caused by either bacteria or virus infections and in conjunction with other immunologically related factors leads to the tonsillitis disorder (Ueno, Banchereau & Vinuesa, 2015). Viruses causing tonsillitis include Herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr virus, and Cytomegalovirus as well as Adenovirus and the measles virus. Bacteria causing tonsillitis is mainly group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyrogens which adhere to tonsils epithelium adhesions receptors (Ueno et al., 2015). The invasion of the respective microbes causes an inflammation response by the mucosa lining. The body’s adaptive response to this alteration is fever, exudation, erythema, and swelling of the lymph nodes. Other adaptive responses include an increased heart beat as the body seeks to compensate for the increased body temperature which is a result of the fever. The options available for treating tonsils include administration of antibiotics for bacterial tonsillitis, NSAIDs for fever and pain, adequate intake of fluid for hydration purposes, and adequate rest. In case of severe or chronic tonsillitis, surgery is the recommended option. In severe conditions, tonsillitis can result to blockage of the wind and food pipes, and sleep apnea.
Scenario 2: Contact dermatitis
In this case, a diagnosis of contact dermatitis is made primarily because of the flaky hands that exhibit no pain or discomfort, the sometimes “a little hot” feeling, and the fact that he works with harsh solvents and chemicals without protective gloves.
The skin forms the primary line of defense against disease and desiccation by keeping pathogens out, moisture in, and a clear separation of internal and external environments of the body. Contact dermatitis is a skin health condition that is a result of the skin swelling after contact with chemical irritant. It is non-immunologically mediated and after the skin comes into contact with the chemical, the epidermal cells are damaged hence inflammation (Mammer & McPhee, 2014). Inflammation is the adaptive response of the body, and a second line of defense. Inflammation manifests through reddening, swelling, hot-feeling, and sometimes pain. The body’s adaptive response after the skin is exposed to chemical irritants is vasodilatation which is meant to increase blood flow to the site of injury. Additionally, there is increased vascular permeability which is meant to transfer leukocytes, blood proteins, and other biochemical mediators to the injured area (Mammer & McPhee, 2014). The strength of the irritant or the severity of the injury is directly correlated with the damage caused. In the case of Jack, recommended treatment is to abstain from direct contact with the irritant chemicals and treat the symptoms using hypo-irritant lotions and topical steroid cream for the hands.
Scenario 3: Stress response
Martha’s case is determined to be stress-related primarily because of her racing heart, loss of appetite, and the prevailing environmental stressors which include; a retirement that doesn’t suit what she had anticipated, caring for an elderly ailing mother, and suffering from controlled hypertension.
Stress is a condition that is related to a strenuous environment which in the case of Martha includes a significant change of life – retirement, unmet expectations, and a hailing mother that requires special care. Martha retired and she didn’t have a social outlet to get relief from in caring for her sick mother. Stress is triggered through a condition (the stimulus) that is perceived by the brain as being stressful and thus, an adaptive response – the survival mechanism – is a psychological measure that is promoted by the body (Ehlers & Clark, 2000). The body responses to stress through a three-phased process; first, is the reaction where the central nervous system is stimulated and the defenses of the body mobilized. Second is adaptation or resistance which conforms to the normal flight or fight body response mechanism. Lastly is the exhaustion stage the continued occurrence of stress causes results to progressive shutdown homeostasis and the compensatory mechanism of the body. When the body is responding to stress, it activates the sympathetic nervous system releasing norepinephrine resulting to release of catecholamines in to the bloodstream by adrenal gland and in particular, the medulla (Ehlers & Clark, 2000). Release of catecholamines attracts a physiological response which affects the cardiovascular system causing Martha’s blood pressure which was previously controlled to be incontrollable. Epinephrine release enhances contractility of the myocardial operations hence increased heat rate and consequently increased blood pressure. The body also increases section of glucocorticoid hormones which have an important role in homeostasis of the central nervous system thus affecting memory, cognitive abilities, sleep, and mood (Huether et al., 2013; Ehlers & Clark, 2000). In coping with stress, responses can be either adaptive or maladaptive. While adaptive responses focus on the problem and seek remedy solutions, maladaptive response is a behavior with potentially negative effects e.g. drugs use. To remedy Martha condition, socialization is recommended, counseling, and participation in supportive groups of persons with similar problems.
Mind-map for tonsillitis




References
Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour research and therapy, 38(4), 319-345.
Huether, S. E., McCance, K. L., & Parkinson, C. F. (2013). Study Guide for Understanding Pathophysiology-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Mammer, G. & McPhee, S.J. (2014). Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine Flash Cards. McGraw-Hill Professional.
Ueno, H., Banchereau, J., & Vinuesa, C. G. (2015). Pathophysiology of T follicular helper cells in humans and mice. Nature immunology, 16(2), 142.
Tonsillitis
Epidemiology
Pathophysiology
Risk factors
Clinical presentation
Diagnosis
Adaptive responses to alterations
Affects children under 10 years old and adults 15-25 years old
Out of 2000 visit, 120 are sore throat cases a year
The age below 15 years
Spring and winter times
Contact with an affected person in an enclosed space
Fever
Sore throat
Tender cervical lymph nodes
Foul breath
Dysphagia and Odynophagia
Available risk factors
Throat culture
Rapid streptococcal antigen test
Causing microbes enter the body though the nose or mouth
microbes are transferred to the tonsils
infection and inflammation of the tonsils
Fever
Exudation
Erythema
Swelling of the lymph nodes
Increased heart beat