A 3 month old infant was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit after he dev

Question

A 3 month old infant was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit after he developed severe fever and septicemia. His infection was cured with intravenous antibiotics and he returned home. Within 48 hours he same symptoms and had developed the was again rushed to the hospital. The infection was successfully treated with antifungals, but this e physician also ordered hematological tests. His lymphocyte counts were extremely low given his condition. (a) What disorder does he have? (b) What was this caused by (what agent if infectious)? (o) His mother recenty changed f Why did this switch coincide with the infant starting to get sick AND what specific molecule was doing the work? (d) Typically vaccinating children protects them from disease, recently the CDC mandated that infants like this one should NOT receive the Rotarix or RotaTeq vaccines. What infection would they get and why might a subunit vaccine be safer? from breast-feeding to using formula

Explanation / Answer

a) The child has developed systemic fungal infection. It shows symptoms similar to bacterial sepsis. So, it can be treated by antibiotics.

b) It is generally caused by Candida species of fungus.

c) Human mothers milk contains some unique components like cytokines, immunoglobulins and antibacterial and antiviral components. These molecules protect the new born from some very serious respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. Besides they also protect the infant from fungal sepsis. So, switching from breast feeding to formula feeding led to susceptibility of child to serious infections.

d) Rota virus vaccine is given to prevent severe gastrointestinal disorders in new borns. Live weakened micro organisms are given through this vaccine. It has certain side effects like diarrhea, skin irritability. This vaccine is not recommended to babies with the above symptoms as it can aggravate the given situation leading to life threatening condition of the child.

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