A person states, "I think I am coming down with something." In which stage of infection is this person?
Recovery stage
Prodromal stage
Incubation stage
Acute stage
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. The recovery stage, also called the convalescent stage, occurs after the acute phase when symptoms are subsiding and the body is returning to normal health. The person typically feels improving, not just beginning to feel unwell.
B. The prodromal stage is the early phase of infection when a person begins to experience nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, mild fever, or malaise. This stage is often described as "coming down with something" because the individual senses that illness is developing before specific or severe symptoms appear. During this stage, the pathogen is multiplying, and the person may be contagious, even though the signs are not yet definitive.
C. The incubation stage occurs immediately after exposure to the pathogen, during which the pathogen is replicating in the body but the person is asymptomatic. The individual is not aware of the infection yet, making this stage distinct from the prodromal stage.
D. The acute stage is characterized by full-blown, specific symptoms of the infection, such as high fever, rash, severe cough, or other hallmark manifestations. The person in this stage is clearly ill, unlike during the prodromal stage.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Norepinephrine is released by the sympathetic nervous system during stress and primarily functions to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness. It does not directly suppress inflammation.
B. Antidiuretic hormone regulates water retention in the kidneys to maintain fluid balance and blood pressure but does not significantly influence the inflammatory response.
C. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex in response to stress through activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It plays a central role in modulating the immune system by suppressing inflammation. Cortisol inhibits cytokine production, reduces leukocyte migration, decreases capillary permeability, and suppresses antibody production and T-cell activity. These effects prevent excessive tissue damage, conserve energy, and prioritize the body’s physiological resources for immediate stress adaptation. Chronic elevation of cortisol can lead to immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to infections.
D. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone that regulates sodium and water reabsorption to maintain blood pressure. It does not have anti-inflammatory effects.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. HIV is present in very low concentrations in saliva, and normal, closed-mouth kissing does not transmit the virus. Transmission is only theoretically possible if both partners have open sores or bleeding gums, allowing blood-to-blood contact, but this is extremely rare. Therefore, casual kissing is considered a very low-risk activity.
B. The primary route of HIV transmission worldwide is sexual contact. HIV is present in semen, vaginal fluids, and rectal secretions, and can enter the body through mucous membranes, microtears, or abrasions in the genital, anal, or oral areas. Unprotected sexual intercourse (without condoms or pre-exposure prophylaxis) carries a high risk of transmission. Factors that increase risk include multiple sexual partners, presence of other sexually transmitted infections, and high viral load in the infected partner.
C. HIV is not transmitted through intact skin, so casual contact such as shaking hands, hugging, or touching surfaces does not pose any risk. The virus is fragile outside the human body and cannot survive long on environmental surfaces, making casual contact safe.
D. HIV is not transmitted through saliva in sufficient quantities to infect another person. Sharing food or utensils does not provide the virus with access to the bloodstream or mucous membranes in a way that would allow infection, so this is considered safe.
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