Overview
Respond to all of the following questions no later than
- Kelly Morton is a 56-year-old woman who has develop rheumatoid arthritis and is beginning to develop significant joint damage as a result of the disease. Her physician wants to treat her with drugs to suppress her immune system in order prevent further joint damage. She says that she takes aspirin to relieve her joint pain, and doesn’t understand how suppressing her immune system would help her. She is also concerned that suppressing her immune system may make her more susceptible to infection. What would you tell her? Be sure to discuss why suppressing the immune system would be a better option than just taking aspirin. What are the shortfalls of taking only aspirin? What are the shortfalls of suppressing her immune system?
- Stephanie Spohr has developed oral herpes and has some vesicles and blisters around her mouth. She is concerned that the herpes infection will make her susceptible to developing herpes zoster as well. Is her concern valid? What would you tell her?
- Post 1-2 questions that you have related to this week’s readings