What is the epidemiology of this disease? Identify risk factors for this disease and describe the disease course/outcome  in humans.

Project case study

Case Study C: A 26 year old female named Kim went to her family doctor complaining of stiff knee joints. Kim is a healthy normal weight woman who exercises regularly. The doctor asked Kim how she had been feeling over the past few weeks. Kim told the doctor that about 4 weeks ago she started having flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, fatigue and body aches. This happened about a week after she had been hiking in the mountains of Virginia with some old college friends. Kim figured she must have caught the flu from one of her friends on the trip. She also noticed a red ring-like rash on her leg about 2 weeks ago. Since that trip Kim has been doing normal activities including going to work and exercising 3 days per week at the gym.

The Gram stain results on Kim’s blood sample were inconclusive.

Based on the information presented in the case study, answer the following questions in your paper (see guidelines for additional info):

1. What microorganism do you believe is to blame for this illness (be specific)? Provide background information on this organism, history, morphology, virulence factors, toxins, etc…

2. What information from the patient’s symptoms contributed to your decision? Did this information allow you to rule out any other possible culprits? What information from the patient’s history and/or lab samples that contributed to your decision? Support your answers with factual evidence and logical reasoning.

3. What is the epidemiology of this disease? Identify risk factors for this disease and describe the disease course/outcome  in humans.

4. What steps can be taken to treat the illness? How and why are the treatments effective (or ineffective)? Are there any concerns or other complications of this disease?