A 6-month-old infant is brought to the emergency department (ED) having woken up from a nap with a weak cry, ptosis, unreactive pupils, and the inability to lift her arms. She has had routine well-baby care. There is no sign of physical abuse or rash, and she is afebrile. The physician puts the child on a respiration monitor and calls the infectious disease consultant. What is most likely causing the problem?
A) Viral meningitis B) Infant botulism C) Botulism from canned goods that were improperly heated D) Bacterial meningitis-Listeria monocytogenes E) Bacterial meningitis-Streptococcus pneumoniae
A) Cleavage of terminal neuronal docking proteins preventing the release of acetylcholine B) Blocking the transport of choline into neurons C) Inhibition of choline acetyltransferase D) Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase E) Blocking the synapse of acetylcholine at the ganglia
Five children in Mrs. Thompson's third grade class develop a disease which begins as a bright red rash on the face, turns violet after a few days, then disappears; then, a maculopapular rash appears on the trunk, buttocks, and extremities. It soon fades from the trunk but persists on the thighs and forearms. Two children have also had a slight fever and a sore throat, but none were terribly sick. The genetic material of the most likely causative infectious agent is
A) Double-stranded DNA B) Single-stranded DNA C) Double-stranded RNA D) Single-stranded RNA E) Segmented single-stranded RNA