Reference no: EM133676018

Question

An 18-month-old child has been suffering from "cold" symptoms for the past 10 days. Four days ago he was seen by his primary care physician and found to have a fever, an exudate on his pharynx, and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. His chest was clear. A throat culture was taken and the child given a course of ampicillin. On day 10 of the infection, the child's condition worsened. He became increasingly lethargic, developed respiratory distress, and was admitted to the hospital. On examination, the child was found to have an exudate in the posterior pharynx consisting of a yellowish, thick membrane, which bled when removed. A non-spore-forming, gram-positive bacillus, which displayed a palisades arrangement, was recovered from it.

1. What is the organism causing this condition in the child?

2. What condition/disease does the child have?

3. What molecule/virulence factor produced by the pathogenic organism is causing the child's symptoms? How does this virulence factor impact the child's cells?

4. How is the disease usually prevented in individuals? What treatment would you recommend the child receive for this condition/disease?