Nursing Question

Please read the following text and create a 150 words peer reply.

Subjective Data

Subjective data entails the information from the patient’s perspective. Based on the presented health information, the patient is a 25-year-old Hispanic female, who presents complaining of a 12-day history of a runny nose. Additionally, she suffers from allergies and admits to having a runny nose during the spring-time or pollen season, however, in the winter, her allergies are not a problem.

Objective Findings

The goal of the objective evaluation is to detect normal and aberrant results. Abnormal findings could indicate a potential issue and could assist in formulating a diagnosis. From the presented case study, clinicians must examine the following data:

• (T) 100.4°F (38°C)
• Bilateral erythema and edema of turbinates
• Slightly fatigued
• The yellow drainage on the right nostril
• Limited postnasal drainage
• Obstructed air passages
• Voice has a nasal quality to it
• Scant post-nasal drainage

Diagnostic Exams

Diseases and ailments in the body are detected through diagnostic examinations. The common diagnostic exams for the patient would be:

Direct Laryngoscopy: This is a very telling exam. A laryngoscopy could assist the provider in directly examining the nasal passages, turbinates, pharynx, sinuses, throat, and voice box. The provider would be able to assess whether the patient has an infection or if this is more allergy-related. Additionally, a direct culture could be collected to eliminate the possibility of a bacterial culprit (Laryngoscopy: Procedure, Definition & Types, 2022)..

Paranasal sinus X-ray: Sinus X-rays, also referred to as sinus series, are a kind of image examination that includes using a low dose of radiation to view the sinuses’ features. Sinuses contain air-filled cavities on the right or left of the nasal passages. There is some disagreement on the functions of the sinuses, although some hypothesize that they help shape the face and provide humidity to the air inhaled by the nose (Martel, 2022). The test is essential considering the patient’s scant postnasal drainage.

Complete blood count: A complete blood count (CBC) is a diagnostic test used to assess general health and discover various diseases.

Differential Diagnoses and Rationales

Allergic rhinitis: The condition is generally referred to as seasonal allergies. Allergic rhinitis is a collection of symptoms that manifest in the nasal passages. When the body’s immune response identifies and reacts badly to something from the surroundings, which is harmless for most individuals, this may lead to allergic rhinitis. The patient might have exposed herself to the environmental conditions during the mentioned spring and pollen season. Besides, Nadolpho (2021) claims that individuals with allergic rhinitis experience symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose, post-nasal discharge, and blockage, among other signs, when exposed to pollen or dust.

Viral pharyngitis: A variety of viruses may be the root causative agent of pharyngitis. Inflammation of the throat and tonsils is referred to as acute pharyngitis. Several different kinds of bacteria may cause this kind of throat infection. Pharyngitis may be caused either by an illness that is widespread in the upper airways or by an infection confined to the pharynx alone (Aung, 2020). The patient might be ailing from viral pharyngitis due to a runny nose, postnasal drip, and a history of allergies.

Sinusitis: Swelling or inflammation of the mucous membrane or tissues lining the sinuses (Sinus Infection (Sinusitis): Types, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment, 2022). Again this could be viral or bacterial. The patient could have sinusitis due to the presenting signs and symptoms such as sizeable nasal turbinates, allergies, and high fever (T 100.4°F (38°C).