Case Study: Emily, a 35-year-old woman, presented to the emergency room with severe headaches, fever, and confusion. She mentioned experiencing stiffness in her neck and sensitivity to light. Emily had a history of recent respiratory infection. The medical team suspected a microbial infection affecting her nervous system.
Discussion Questions:
Diagnosis and Identification:
What microbial agents could potentially cause infections of the nervous system?
Modes of Transmission:
How are microbial infections of the nervous system typically transmitted?
Pathophysiology:
Explain how microbial agents can enter and affect the nervous system.
Discuss the potential consequences of microbial infections on the central nervous system.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Case Study Analysis: Neurological Infection in Emily
Diagnosis and Identification
In the case of Emily, the symptoms of severe headaches, fever, confusion, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light raise suspicion for several potential microbial agents that could cause infections of the nervous system. The following are common pathogens associated with such infections:
1. Bacterial Agents:
– Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal meningitis)
– Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal meningitis)
– Listeria monocytogenes (especially in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women)
– Escherichia coli (often in neonates)
2. Viral Agents:
– Enteroviruses (including Coxsackievirus and Echovirus)
– Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) (particularly HSV-1)
– Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
– West Nile Virus (transmitted by mosquitoes)
3. Fungal Agents:
– Cryptococcus neoformans (especially in immunocompromised individuals)
4. Parasitic Agents:
– Toxoplasma gondii (in immunocompromised patients)
– Naegleria fowleri (rare but fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis)
Modes of Transmission
Microbial infections of the nervous system can be transmitted through various routes, including:
1. Direct Infection:
– Pathogens can spread directly from an infected site (e.g., sinuses, ears) through contiguous tissues to the nervous system.
2. Hematogenous Spread:
– Microbes can enter the bloodstream and subsequently cross the blood-brain barrier to infect the central nervous system (CNS).
3. Neuronal Pathways:
– Certain viruses, such as HSV and rabies, can travel along peripheral nerves to reach the CNS.
4. Environmental Exposure:
– Some pathogens, such as Naegleria fowleri, are acquired through contaminated water sources.
5. Vector-borne Transmission:
– Viruses like West Nile Virus are transmitted through mosquito bites.
Pathophysiology
Microbial agents can enter and affect the nervous system through several mechanisms:
1. Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier:
– Many pathogens have evolved mechanisms to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a selective barrier that protects the CNS. For example, Neisseria meningitidis can adhere to endothelial cells, facilitating its entry.
2. Infection and Inflammation:
– Once inside the CNS, pathogens can initiate inflammatory responses, leading to edema, increased intracranial pressure, and neuronal damage.
3. Direct Cellular Damage:
– Some microbes can invade and replicate within neural cells, leading to cell lysis and subsequent neurological impairment.
Potential Consequences of Microbial Infections on the Central Nervous System
The consequences of microbial infections on the CNS can be severe and may include:
1. Meningitis:
– Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord can lead to complications such as seizures, cognitive deficits, and even death if untreated.
2. Encephalitis:
– Direct inflammation of brain tissue can cause neurological deficits, altered consciousness, and severe long-term sequelae such as memory loss or personality changes.
3. Brain Abscesses:
– Localized collections of pus can form in brain tissue due to bacterial infections, leading to increased intracranial pressure and focal neurological signs.
4. Neurological Dysfunction:
– Depending on the areas affected, patients may experience motor deficits, sensory loss, speech difficulties, or other neurological impairments.
5. Systemic Complications:
– Septicemia or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) may arise from widespread infection, complicating patient outcomes.
Conclusion
Emily’s clinical presentation suggests a serious neuroinfection that necessitates prompt diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the microbial agents involved, their modes of transmission, pathophysiological mechanisms, and potential consequences is crucial for effective management and positive patient outcomes. Early intervention is essential to prevent long-term neurological damage or death related to these infections.
