Mononucleosis Essays (Examples)

Epstein-Barr Virus – EBV (Mononucleosis)
A contagious disease, infectious mononucleosis is mostly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC, 2018). It is, however, important to note that in most cases, an infection with EBV does not necessarily progress to mononucleosis. Essentially, EBV infections are commonplace and may not present any symptoms, particularly during the childhood early adulthood phases. However, as CDC (2018) points out, “at least one out of four teenagers and young adults who get infected with EBV will develop infectious mononucleosis.” Most infections on this front spread as a consequence of close contact with an individual who is already infected, i.e. via sharing of cutlery or kissing.
Some of the more common symptoms of EBV infection include, but they are not limited to, “sore throat, cervical lymph node enlargement, fatigue and fever most often seen in adolescents and young adults and…

At present, the symptoms presented by the student are consistent with infectious mononucleosis (IM) caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).  This includes symptoms that appear to mimic those of the flu.  In addition to a sore throat, the patient complains of aching joints and fatigue.  It should be noted that an elevated temperature and swollen lymph nodes were revealed following an initial examination by the FNP.  The lab results were, however, unremarkable and a Monospot test turned out to be negative.  It is important to note that “because peak heterophile antibody levels are seen between 2 to 6 weeks from infection, testing too early in the disease process may lead to increased rates of false negative testing” (Stuempfig and Seroy, 2019).  In the case study, we are told that the patient in question has been having “flu-like” symptoms for the last one week.  Therefore, the Monospot test in this case could…

Mono

Infectious mononucleosis (mono) is caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), a relative of herpes. The disease is most common in people under 30 years of age and is common worldwide. Almost all (90-100%) adults have been exposed and have antibodies, whereas young people remain susceptible (Handin, Lux & Stossel, 2003). This is why the disease manifests primarily in young people, and especially those who share rooms or live in crowded conditions like dormitories. Hygiene is a factor, too, with the rate of infection among children under the age of ten living in developing countries significantly higher than children under the age of ten in economically developed nations. Because the disease is carried on saliva, and because saliva interchange is the most common mode of transmission, mononucleosis is commonly called the "kissing disease." However, the disease can be transmitted via close contact without kissing (Evans & Kaslow, 1997). By the…

Prospective Clinical Study of Epstein-Barr Virus and Host Interactions During Acute Infectious Mononucleosis Article eview

Balfour et al. (2005) carried out the study with an aim of discovering how Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) replication is controlled. Using such information would offer them insights as to why some immunocompromised patients develop fatal or severe disease when they fail to contain EBV infection. According to Balfour et al. (2005), it is not easy to distinguish subjects with primary EBV from those with nonprimary EBV infection based on their symptoms and physical findings. The most frequent complaint was tiredness and pharyngitis was the common physical finding. Subjects with nonprimary EBV infection also manifested longer periods of a sore throat and headaches. Nausea and abdominal pain were also common symptoms manifested by the subjects. The trajectory of illness severity was that the recovery rate of nonprimary EBV infection subjects was slower than that of primary…

fever and palpable cervical nodes indicates an infection. Jennifer appears to have bacterial tonsillitis. However, in order to confirm, a throat culture must be taken. Although mononucleosis is uncommon in toddlers, it is a possible diagnosis and typically comes from contact in daycares (Yokoyama et al., 2013). To confirm the mononucleosis diagnosis, serology is needed. While the clinical manifestation points to possible mononucleosis diagnosis, younger children do not have as pronounced symptoms.

Bacterial or viral infections as well as other immunologic factors lead to development of tonsillitis. The majority of acute tonsillitis may be caused by viruses such as Herpes simplex virus (Babakurban, Erbek, Terzi, Arslan, & Sahin, 2014). Although because the symptoms are so pronounced, it could be caused by mononucleosis. This making the origins bacterial.

A possible treatment option is Augmentin. It is a broad spectrum penicillin antibiotic that has a combination of clauvulanate potassium and amoxicillin. However,…

Pressure on the superior vena cava may produce SVC syndrome, a swelling of the head and arms. SVC syndrome involving the brain can be fatal and must be treated immediately. But enlarged lymphatic tissue in the chest cavity generally tends to displace -- rather than press upon or encase -- adjacent structures. Therefore, compromised breathing and SVC syndrome are relatively uncommon signs of lymphoma. (Hodgkin's Disease, 1998-2008)

Effects on Bone Marrow

Night sweats, fevers or anemia (a low red-blood-cell count), fevers may indicate Hodgkin's disease has spread to an individual's bone marrow. In these scenarios, a physician may order bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. In biopsy, medical staff uses a large needle to remove a narrow, cylindrical piece of the patient's bone. In another option, medical staff performs an aspiration, a process utilizing a needle to remove small bits of bone marrow. Generally, in both instances, to help determine cancer…

None of this would have been possible had Milo not passed through the phantom tollbooth.

2. I may not have entered a toy tollbooth into another land but many of my life experienced parallel Milo's. Like Milo, too, I have not undergone a singular transformation of character but have accumulated a series of life experiences that together contribute to changes of character. For instance, when I was in school I played sports and was talented enough to be one of the assistant captains. Because I was shy, however, I rarely emerged as a team leader until the day our captain fell ill with mononucleosis and would not be in school for three weeks. The coach surprised me in front of the whole team by naming me as the replacement captain. I assumed my teammates would be disappointed that the other assistant was passed up. What happened absolutely startled me: the…

However, he questions the research that has been done in this area. First, he wonders whether the exercise is a placebo effect based on the anticipation of improvement. The second question is the acceptability of this treatment. Many CFS patients actively avoid exercise and many healthcare providers in fact recommend rest at all costs rather than a concern of relapse. However, the positive aspect of the CBT and the exercise is that it has the patients question their fears. In both cases, there is a psychotherapeutic affect that may be beneficial.

The use of antidepressants is another approach that has been suggested and studied. However, the results on this have also been mixed. As Demitrack (1996, p. 282) states, "At the present time, it is unrealistic to present medication as a sole treatment for this disease." It may be that medications could work in the short-term and provide enough symptomatic…

Physiological Effects of Hodgkin's Disease

In this paper I shall give an overview of Hodgkin's disease while focusing on its physiological effects. Specifically, the paper consists of an overview of the disease, describes how the disease affects the body cells and tissues, and how the treatment attacks the disease and affects the body, besides reviewing the treatments available.

Hodgkin's disease is one of the two (and less severe) types of cancer of the lymphatic system; the other type being non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The disease is named after the British physician, Thomas Hodgkin, who first discovered the condition in 1832. Hodgkin's disease commonly occurs in young adults (between the ages of 15 to 35) and in older people (over 50-year-olds. However, about 10%-15% of cases have been diagnosed in children below 16 years of age. Statistics also show that more men than women are afflicted by it. ("What are the Key Statistics…

Childhood Depression

Major depressive disorder, or MDD, may affect up to twenty percent of the adult population. The recognition of depression as a serious and common mental disorder has been vital in the identification and treatment of depression in adults. Leaps and bounds have been made in the field of depression research. The widespread recognition of the many possible causes of depression, including chemical imbalances with genetic or medical origins as well as traumatic life events, has made it possible for those suffering from depression to openly seek treatment options and discuss their depression without necessarily feeling the same overwhelming shame and isolation that were inevitable in generations past. Depression is more likely to be identified in an affected individual by family members, physicians, or others because of the public information that is available for professionals and the common people. Research is constantly revealing new treatment options, identifying causal factors,…

HIV testing/Screening be made part of Primary Prevention?

This analysis backs up research on behavioral interventions that lower HIV transmission. The aim of the analysis are to reinforce interdisciplinary research that develops, implements, and evaluates practically and theoretically based interventions intended to prevent HIV transmission. This knowledge needs to progress understanding of the interaction between psychological, behavioral, biological and social factors that influence the acquirement of HIV in our populations. The analysis supports research that acts as the base for an empirically-based public health policy plan to prevent several new HIV infections as possible. Similarly, ASPQ supports basic prevention and intervention research that tackle multiple levels factors that facilitate or obstruct lowering of HIV risk.

Introduction

Immense progress have been made over the ancient times decade in behavioral research on how to assist people prevent contracting HIV infections (primary prevention) and how to reduce or alleviate unfavorable consequences among individuals…

depression has been known as a "result when individuals forfeit their personal power." (Depression: Multimedia Sourcebook, p.1) It also has been described in ancient times as "... [an] affliction [that] laid its cause to supernatural intervention, primarily religious in nature. (insworth, p. 48) In the Hindu depression was noted as a struggle between good and evil in which evil would win and "victimize individual humans." (insworth, p.48) In texts from Babylonia and Egypt, gods punished transgressions in the hearts of people and placed on them the depressive curse. The early Hebrew texts allude to the belief that depression in humans reflects the displeasure of Yahweh.

But according to up-to-the-date research, we know that depression is an "innocuous-sounding word... that refers to a potentially disabling illness that affects many but is understood by few." (insworth p.1) Professor Patricia insworth, a leading psychologist on depression, further explains that sufferers often do not…

Gastroparesis

Digestive System Disorder Case Study: Gastroparesis

The paper opens with an introduction and definintion of Gastroparesis and its association to damaging of vagus nerves along the intestines and stomach muscles. This reduces their ability for function properly. People living with diabetes have a higher likelihood of advancing Gastroparesis against sequential Diabetic Gastroparesis. More persons are contracting Gastroparesis during surgical operations. The paper illustrates that more patients are yet to find a cause linking their illnesses with Gastroparesis because it triggers Idiopathic Gastroparesis. The scope of Gastroparesis has a close link to diseases of connective tissue such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as well as scleroderma. The neurological conditions worsen along Parkinson's disease. The paper concludes with proposals of Gastroparesis diagnosis through tests carried out on gastric emptying scans, x-rays, and manometry. Clinical Gastroparesis takes the definition of stomach emptying complications. There are beneficial adjustments to insulin dosage among diabetic people who…

Depression in Adolescence

Depression in Adolescents

The link between symptoms, etiology, core biochemical processes, treatment outcome, and treatment response of affective (mood) disorders is yet to be adequately understood for allowing their categorization, such that it meets universal approval. Still, one has to make an attempt in this regard, and researchers propose a potentially-acceptable one, derived from extensive consultation.

In case of affective disorders, the basic disturbance is an affect (mood) change, typically extreme elation or depression (without or with related anxiety). An overall activity level change generally accompanies this change of mood, and a majority of other related symptoms either will be conveniently recognized in the context of these changes, or will be secondary to them. Most disorders have a tendency of repetition, and the commencement of individual bouts is usually linked to stressful circumstances or occurrences.

The key criteria of classification of affective disorders have been selected for…

Depression in Adolescence

Depression in Adolescents

The link between symptoms, etiology, core biochemical processes, treatment outcome, and treatment response of affective (mood) disorders is yet to be adequately understood for allowing their categorization, such that it meets universal approval. Still, one has to make an attempt in this regard, and researchers propose a potentially-acceptable one, derived from extensive consultation.

In case of affective disorders, the basic disturbance is an affect (mood) change, typically extreme elation or depression (without or with related anxiety). An overall activity level change generally accompanies this change of mood, and a majority of other related symptoms either will be conveniently recognized in the context of these changes, or will be secondary to them. Most disorders have a tendency of repetition, and the commencement of individual bouts is usually linked to stressful circumstances or occurrences.

The key criteria of classification of affective disorders have been selected for…

Healthy People 2020' initiative (HP2020) greatly emphasizes social health determinants, health inequity factors, and income and educational goals. Further, it adopts a broader perspective of the health effects of natural and manmade environments. The National Prevention and Health Promotion Council, by building on this initiative, offers a new means to implement a government-wide 'health in every policy' approach. Several NPS (National Prevention Strategy) interventions will extend across sectors and departments, influencing various health results (Fielding, Teutsch, & Koh, 2012). Numerous HIV / AIDS-linked clinical characteristics may be attributed to the intense immune deficiency developing among infected individuals. Immune system breakdown by the human immune virus causes opportunistic infection, and greater vulnerability to malignancy and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, there may be HIV-connected disease manifestations; for instance, in the course of the primary ailment surfacing within a few weeks after the individual's first HIV exposure, clinical signs are seen in about half…

Communicable Disease: Influenza

Description of the Disease

Influenza or "the flu" is a common illness in the winter months, all throughout the United States and many other countries. Both birds and all mammals can contract influenza (Brankston, et al., 2007). In recent years there have been scares regarding "bird flu" and "swine flu," both of which are simply different strains of influenza. The cause of the flu is an NA virus in the family Orthomyxoviridae (Eccles, 2005). Once people contract the flu, they present with common symptoms such as chills, fever, a runny nose, muscle pains, a sore throat, and a headache. The headache is quite often severe, and flu sufferers may also have weakness, fatigue, severe bouts of coughing, and a general feeling of overall discomfort. People with the flu can also become nauseated and vomit, although that is more typical in children and not nearly as common in…