Which of the following is the most likely pathogen in a previously healthy 13-month-old girl with a 2-day history of fever and increasing cough, who is breastfed with no vomiting,... Which of the following is the most likely pathogen in a previously healthy 13-month-old girl with a 2-day history of fever and increasing cough, who is breastfed with no vomiting, has up-to-date immunizations, is alert and mildly ill appearing, has no grunting or chest retractions on examination, has crackles heard over the right lung base, has normal examination findings, and no known allergies?
Understand the Problem
The question describes a clinical scenario of a 13-month-old girl with fever, cough, and crackles in the lungs. It asks to identify the most likely pathogen causing her condition based on the provided information.
Answer
The most likely pathogen is Streptococcus pneumoniae.
The final answer is C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is C. Streptococcus pneumoniae
More Information
The most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in this age group is Streptococcus pneumoniae. The patient's age, clinical presentation, and physical exam findings all support this diagnosis. The child is 13 months old (1-3 months), has a fever, cough, and crackles in the lungs, which are typical symptoms of pneumonia. The patient is up to date with their vaccinations, making Haemophilus influenzae type B less likely.
Tips
When diagnosing pneumonia, consider the patient's age, immunization status, and presenting symptoms. This will help narrow down the list of possible pathogens.
Sources
- Pediatric Pneumonia - Medscape Reference - emedicine.medscape.com
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