Cellular Pathophysiology Paper – NUR611 Advanced Pathophysiology
Utilizing your knowledge of altered cellular pathophysiology and tissue biology, alterations of fluids and electrolytes, and alterations of acid-base balance, answer the following prompts regarding a paent ill with influenza. Prepare a two- to three-page paper, not including the title and reference pages, in current APA professional paper format (hps://maryville.instructure.com/courses/75417/modules/items/6223017) explaining the following:
- The cellular alterations due to influenza infection
- The alterations of fluids and electrolytes that can occur due to influenza infection
- The alterations of acid-base balance that can occur due to an influenza infection
- Provide two scholarly references that are applicable to your case. All resources referenced must be
- published within the past five years. Ulize current APA professional paper format
- (hps://maryville.instructure.com/courses/75417/modules/items/6223017) .
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SAMPLE ANSWER
Cellular Pathophysiology Paper
Cellular Pathophysiology Paper
The influenza virus is one of the most common health problems worldwide and is often seasonal. There are four types of influenza viruses each having its distinctive characteristics, with three of them being common in humans, that is type A, B, and C. However, their pathophysiology is almost similar with some minor differences in how they affect components of the respiratory system and the manifestation of symptoms. The infection has a significant health and economic impact on those who are affected. Influenza is caused by the influenza virus, which it interferes with different body mechanisms through interactions with the host cells. The virus inhibits cellular protein synthesis, which makes it potent. Additionally, the virus also escapes the normal innate antiretroviral response, which by extension makes its replication quite fast within the body. This paper aims to investigate the cellular alterations associated with influenza, alterations of fluids and electrolytes that can occur as a result, and alterations of acid-base balance due to the infection.
Cellular Alterations Due to Influenza Infection
The influenza virus being a negative-stranded RNA virus, works by inhibiting the synthesis of cellular proteins (Dou et al., 2018). This inhibition causes various cellular alterations within the body which lead to manifestation of the symptoms related to the infection. Influenza usually targets the epithelial cells along the lung mucosa. Due to the stated cellular alterations, the virus causes the cells to undergo apoptosis as a response mechanism to the viral infection, which then leads to inflammation. With time, the immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages start to converge towards the site of infection, which leads to further apoptosis and subsequent worsening of the inflammation (Atkin-Smith et al., 2018). As the cell death becomes significant, the upper and lower respiratory tract becomes inflamed, compromising the integrity of the epithelial cell barrier. If left untreated, further degradation of the cell barrier could then lead to respiratory failure (Atkin-Smith et al., 2018). Additionally, with increased injury of the epithelial cells, the affected areas start building up fluid, increasing the chances of secondary bacterial infections.
The Alterations of Fluids and Electrolytes that Can Occur Due to Influenza Infection
The pulmonary system usually has a delicately balanced homeostatic system that helps to maintain a thin layer of mucus coat along the airways. This balance involves Na+ absorption and Cl− secretion within the epithelial cells. When the balance is affected, for example, due to influenza infection, mucus clearance will be affected, thus causing accumulation that makes it even more conducive for further bacterial infection (Mettelman et al., 2022). Excessive production of mucus and liquids as a result of sweating due to fever causes the body to be dehydrated and experience electrolyte imbalance. Similarly, the infection at times causes gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting, which worsens fluids and electrolyte imbalance; as a result, the body starts manifesting symptoms like body weakness and fatigue.
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The Alterations of Acid-Base Balance that can Occur Due to an influenza Infection
The alterations of acid-base balance that occur in influenza infection are a result of various pathophysiologic and cellular alterations that occur. One way the infection interferes with the acid-base balance is by altering the delicate balance in sodium, potassium, and chloride ions in the airways, which may end up affecting the pH balance in the respiratory system. (Keshavarz et al., 2020). Additionally, with the alterations of the cellular function, and increased apoptosis, the level of CO2 exchange within the epithelial cells becomes diminished, resulting in an increase in blood CO2 levels, which in turn can cause acute acidosis.
Conclusion
The influenza virus poses significant health risks, with the potential to cause respiratory failure. The Infection causes significant alterations in cellular function, including the apoptosis of epithelial and immune cells. As the cells continue to die, the respiratory tract becomes inflamed, with mucus building up due to imbalances in NA and Cl ions. These imbalances end up causing fluid buildup and changes in body pH levels. The listed homeostatic imbalances are now what causes the symptoms experienced by those infected by the influenza virus.
References
Atkin-Smith, G. K., Duan, M., Chen, W., & Poon, I. K. (2018). The induction and consequences of Influenza A virus-induced cell death. Cell Death & Disease, 9(10), 1002. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-018-1035-6
Dou, D., Revol, R., Östbye, H., Wang, H., & Daniels, R. (2018). Influenza A virus cell entry, replication, virion assembly, and movement. Frontiers in Immunology, 9, 1581. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01581
Keshavarz, M., Solaymani-Mohammadi, F., Namdari, H., Arjeini, Y., Mousavi, M. J., & Rezaei, F. (2020). Metabolic host response and therapeutic approaches to influenza infection. Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters, 25, 1-19.
Mettelman, R. C., Allen, E. K., & Thomas, P. G. (2022). Mucosal immune responses to infection and vaccination in the respiratory tract. Immunity, 55(5), 749–780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2022.04.013