In this case, the patient is a 14-year-old female recovering from infectious mononucleosis (mono). She has several bruises and red splotches on her legs, unrelated to trauma or medications, and bleeding gums while brushing her teeth. Her lab results are normal, except for a low blood platelet count. The healthcare provider suspects immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), focusing on the factors affecting fertility, inflammatory markers, and anemia symptoms.
In women, fertility is a critical ability to produce offspring through reproduction. Many factors affect this capacity, leading to infertility with time. In addition to age, weight, and alcohol/tobacco use, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections are risk factors. Chlamydia and mono (the Epstein-Barr virus or EBV) vary in duration and severity (Phillippi & Latendresse, 2019). When the patient has signs of STD or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), the system tries to resist changes and protect itself. Such markers as CA-125, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein are higher in the infected patient (Phillippi et al., 2019). Infections of the female reproductive organs like PIDs or STDs might happen because of different reasons, including exogenous and endogenous microorganisms resulting from unprotected sex or during menstruation. If inflammation worsens or additional stressors emerge, such conditions may lead to new health problems, known as the systemic reaction. The causes are the inability to prevent the growth of bacteria in the body and damaged immunity.
When the patient is diagnosed with ITP, splenectomy is one of the possible therapies performed laparoscopically. The goal is to remove the spleen that affects the pathogenesis of ITP and the localization of platelets. This approach helps keep more platelets and increases the level of thrombocytes. In addition, the patient’s venipuncture site oozed after pressure was released, which can be a sign of anemia. In microcytic anemia, the patient’s red blood cells are small; in macrocytic anemia, stem cells are enlarged (Rote & McCance, 2019). It is important to treat this condition is associated with a lack of oxygen, which results in fatigue, weakness, and irregular headaches.
The case under consideration generally promotes a better understanding of the basics of female reproductive health and the impact of infections. The patient has already experienced the effects of mono, and now, she should deal with ITP and splenectomy as a necessary treatment step. Today, awareness of anemic risk factors, infections, and protected sexual relationships is integral for young adults to predict the progress of health complications.
References
Phillippi, J. C., & Latendresse, G. A. (2019). Sexually transmitted infections. In K. L. McCance & S. E. Huether (Eds.), Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed., pp. 918-944). Mosby/Elsevier.
Phillippi, J. C., Latendresse, G. A., & McCance, K. L. (2019). Alterations of the female reproductive system. In K. L. McCance & S. E. Huether (Eds.), Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed., pp. 800-884). Mosby/Elsevier.
Rote, N. S., & McCance, K. L. (2019). Alterations of erythrocyte function. In K. L. McCance & S. E. Huether (Eds.), Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed., pp. 982-1007). Mosby/Elsevier.