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Hello, I Am A Student And Would Like To If
Question: Hello, I am a student and would like to if I am on the right tract with this case study please (as always, we are given little information) :
20-year-old female student with CC of sore throat, painful swallowing, decreased appetite, headache, runny nose, slight dysphonia, no congestion. At her local community college, some of her friends and classmates told her about an outbreak of flu-like symptoms sweeping her campus over the past two weeks. Your clinic has treated a few cases similar to this recently.
My diff. dx are:
1. viral pharyngitis
2. strep throat
3. common cold symptoms
4. meningococcal disease (because of the patient’s demographic, age)
Thank you for your help
20-year-old female student with CC of sore throat, painful swallowing, decreased appetite, headache, runny nose, slight dysphonia, no congestion. At her local community college, some of her friends and classmates told her about an outbreak of flu-like symptoms sweeping her campus over the past two weeks. Your clinic has treated a few cases similar to this recently.
My diff. dx are:
1. viral pharyngitis
2. strep throat
3. common cold symptoms
4. meningococcal disease (because of the patient’s demographic, age)
Thank you for your help
Brief Answer:
Most likely viral pharyngitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. They describe a young female patients with nonspecific upper respiratory symptoms along with a sore throat and dysphonia, along with background of an outbreak on the college campus. I agree with viral pharyngitis as the most likely (with the runny nose and dysphonia), followed by strep throat. Viral pharyngitis would also be included in common cold symptoms so I don't think you would need to include that (you could put common cold as a separate diagnosis). Meningococcal disease would usually present with fever, neck stiffness, altered mental status, and/or rash, so I wouldn't necessarily include that in the differential.
I would also include infectious mononucleosis, other bacterial causes for pharyngitis (including Group C and G Streptococcus), acute HIV (especially if she has risk factors), gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about any of that and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
Most likely viral pharyngitis
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. They describe a young female patients with nonspecific upper respiratory symptoms along with a sore throat and dysphonia, along with background of an outbreak on the college campus. I agree with viral pharyngitis as the most likely (with the runny nose and dysphonia), followed by strep throat. Viral pharyngitis would also be included in common cold symptoms so I don't think you would need to include that (you could put common cold as a separate diagnosis). Meningococcal disease would usually present with fever, neck stiffness, altered mental status, and/or rash, so I wouldn't necessarily include that in the differential.
I would also include infectious mononucleosis, other bacterial causes for pharyngitis (including Group C and G Streptococcus), acute HIV (especially if she has risk factors), gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes simplex virus.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about any of that and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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