werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (01/18/86)
[If I included the whole history, it would make this too easy, so I'm leaving
out several details, that, while not essential, are highly suggestive.]
A 27-old Hispanic female from the South Bronx is referred to clinic
with a 2-week history of dry cough, fever, shortness of breath, and weight
loss. On physical exam, she has a temperature of 102. An examination of her
head reveals oral thrush (an infection of the mouth by the yeast Candida).
Because of her extreme difficulty breathing, she is admitted to the
hospital. An admission chest X-ray reveals is diffusely cloudy on both sides,
suggesting interstitial pneumonia. A sputum examination reveals nothing, but
shows squamous cells (suggestive that it wasn't done as well as could be
expected.) Routine blood test shows mild anemia (low hematocrit) and a
White Blood Cell count in the normal range.
What is the suspect diagnosis (generally or specifically)?
--
Craig Werner
!philabs!aecom!werner
"It's hard to argue with someone who knows what he's talking about."zarifes@bnrmtv.UUCP (Kenneth Zarifes) (01/24/86)
> A 27-old Hispanic female from the South Bronx is referred to clinic > with a 2-week history of dry cough, fever, shortness of breath, and weight > loss. On physical exam, she has a temperature of 102. An examination of her > head reveals oral thrush (an infection of the mouth by the yeast Candida). > Because of her extreme difficulty breathing, she is admitted to the > hospital. An admission chest X-ray reveals is diffusely cloudy on both sides, > suggesting interstitial pneumonia. A sputum examination reveals nothing, but > shows squamous cells (suggestive that it wasn't done as well as could be > expected.) Routine blood test shows mild anemia (low hematocrit) and a > White Blood Cell count in the normal range. > > What is the suspect diagnosis (generally or specifically)? Perhaps AIDS with pneumocystis pneumonia? As for her history,she is either a heroin addict or is married to one...correct? -- {hplabs,amdahl,3comvax}!bnrmtv!zarifes --Ken Zarifes