Question

A 62-year-old man was hospitalized with an eight-day history of fever, chills, sweats, and vomiting. His temperature on admission was 40°C. A routine peripheral blood smear revealed ring-shaped bodies in the RBCs. What treatment would you prescribe?

A) hyperbaric oxygen
B) streptomycin
C) no treatment
D) penicillin
E) mefloquine

Answer 1

The recommended treatment for the patient's condition is mefloquine or other antimalarial drugs such as ACTs or quinine in combination with antibiotics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The presence of ring-shaped bodies in the RBCs along with the symptoms described suggests that the patient is likely suffering from malaria, specifically caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. To treat this infection, the recommended treatment option is mefloquine or other antimalarial drugs such as artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) or quinine in combination with antibiotics. These medications help to eliminate the parasites from the bloodstream and prevent further complications.