Differential Diagnosis and Reflection Note, Essay Example

Differential diagnoses for sinusitisRhinocerebral Mucormycosis

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a relatively uncommon opportunistic sinus infection. Invading organisms lodge in the brain, nasal passages andoral cavity.Saprophytic fungi are the causative agent. This infection spreads rapidly eventual leading to death. Persons diagnosed with diabetes mellitus are most frequently affected with rhinocerebral mucormycosis, especially if immunocompromised states are evident.Pulmonary, lingual, cutaneous, disseminated forms and gastrointestinal (GI) are common variants of the disease (Teixeira, Medeiros, Leushner & Almeida, 2013).

Since this is a very rare disease scientists have found it difficult to diagnose. Treatment is very aggressive include surgical removal of infective brain tissue to prevent death or spread of the organism to other parts of the body. The difference betweenrhinocerebral mucormycosis and sinusitis are the causative organisms and its dissemination process in other organ systems ((Teixeira et.al, 2013).

Reflective note

The advanced nurse can learn to prescribe an effective antibiotic for fighting chronic sinusitis and create comfort in a patient diagnosed with the conditionby first taking a complete history. This history should include a full list of medications the patient is taking and already took. A culture and sensitivity of any exudate produced from the nose should be taken. When these results have been returned they are matched with medications already taken and those being used. The patient is asked how he/she is reacting to those antibiotics. If sensitivity matches any antibiotics that was taken or is being used a history of the patient’s reaction to it is recorded and the best antibiotic prescribed (Anon, 2010).

References

Anon, J. (2010). Upper respiratory infections.Am. J. Med. 123 (4 Suppl): S16–25.

Teixeira, C. Medeiros, P. Leushner, P., &Almeida, F. (2013). Rhinocerebral mucormycosis: literature review apropos of a rare entity. BMJ, Case Reports