A 5-year-old boy is seen by the pediatrician for a 2-week history of diarrhea. His mother reports that despite dietary changes of dairy elimination the diarrhea persists. She descr... A 5-year-old boy is seen by the pediatrician for a 2-week history of diarrhea. His mother reports that despite dietary changes of dairy elimination the diarrhea persists. She describes the stool as watery, pale, and frothy. He denies fever or vomiting. His physical examination is normal. Microscopic examination of his stools is likely to show which of the following?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking which pathogen is most likely to be identified in the stool examination of a 5-year-old boy with specific symptoms of diarrhea. The key details are the 2-week history of watery, pale, and frothy diarrhea and the normal physical examination. This indicates a possible infectious cause that would present with these stool characteristics.
Answer
Cryptosporidium
The final answer is Cryptosporidium.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is Cryptosporidium.
More Information
Cryptosporidium is a common cause of prolonged diarrhea in children and can lead to watery, frothy stools. It is a parasitic infection often found in areas with poor sanitation.
Tips
Common mistakes include not considering Cryptosporidium because it often doesn't cause fever or vomiting, focusing too much on dietary changes without considering parasitic causes.
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