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A 52-year-old male presents with a fever of 102.5°F and a severe headache. As you assess him, you note the presence of multiple blisters on his face and chest, which are all identical in shape and size. This patient's clinical presentation is MOST consistent with:

A. smallpox
.B. yellow fever virus.
C. sarin toxicity.
D. cutaneous anthrax.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The symptoms of a high fever, severe headache, and multiple identical blisters are most consistent with smallpox. Other conditions mentioned do not present with the specific type of rash seen in smallpox.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 52-year-old male with a fever of 102.5°F and a severe headache, along with multiple blisters on his face and chest of identical shape and size, is most consistently presenting with symptoms of smallpox. Smallpox is a viral disease characterized by high fever, severe headache, and later the development of a distinctive rash that includes blisters filled with clear fluid that later turn into pus. Yellow fever typically includes symptoms like fever, chills, headache, and myalgias but does not have the blistering rash seen in smallpox.

Sarin toxicity presents with respiratory distress and neurological symptoms, while cutaneous anthrax involves a black, necrotic skin lesion, often with a characteristic eschar. Given his symptoms and the appearance of his rash, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention and initiate public health measures, as smallpox is highly contagious and has severe implications for public health.

User Abhishek Dubey
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