Differential Diagnosis I
Infectious mononucleosis
Rationale:
Patients presenting with fever and swollen lymph glands with complaints of sore throat and recent fatigue provide rationale for this differential diagnosis. Infectious mononucleosis may begin slowly with fatigue, a general ill feeling, headache, and sore throat. The sore throat slowly gets worse. Your tonsils become swollen and develop a whitish-yellow covering. The lymph nodes in the neck are frequently swollen and painful (NIH PubMed Health, 2012). Infectious mononucleosis is an infection usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The virus spreads through saliva, which is why it’s sometimes called “kissing disease.” Mono occurs most often in teens and young adults (NIH MedlinePlus, 2014).
(Kane, K.S., Ryder, J.B., Johnson, R.A., Braden, H.P., & Stratigos, 2009)
Differential Diagnosis II
Streptococcal pharyngitis
Rationale:
Patient’s description of sore throat, the main symptom of streptococcal pharyngitis, along with fever and swollen lymph nodes provide reason for this differential diagnosis. Pharyngitis is caused by swelling in the back of the throat (pharynx) between the tonsils and the (larynx).The most common bacteria to cause pharyngitis is group A streptococcus, commonly known as Strep throat (NIH MedlinePlus, 2014).
(NIH MedlinePlus, 2014)
Differential Diagnosis III
Toxoplasma gondii infection
Rationale:
The patient exhibited with swollen lymph nodes, fever, and fatigue which are the central symptoms seen with a Toxoplasma gondii infection diagnosis. Toxoplasma gondii is the result due to an infection from the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, which is one of the world’s most common parasites. The majority of individuals that are affected by this disease do not show signs and symptoms, and the few that do present have flu-like symptoms. In healthy individuals, a need for medical intervention may not be necessary unless the individual is pregnant or has a lowered immunity (Contopoulos-Ioannidis, Maldonado, & Montoya et al., 2013).
(Contopoulos-Ioannidis, D.G., Maldonado, Y., & Montoya, J.G., 2013)