Merceline A., 16

Merceline Awino is an energetic and creative individual who loves spending her free time painting. She finds joy in expressing her thoughts and emotions through vibrant colors and intricate designs. Merceline also enjoys reading mystery novels, which often inspire her artwork. Her passion for painting and storytelling reflects her imaginative and thoughtful nature. She presented to the hospital with symptoms of chest pain, chest congestion, cough and reduced appetite for the past one week. The symptoms were initially mild but worsened over the past 2 days to the extent that she was unable to attend school.

Merceline arrived at the hospital with symptoms of fever, a runny nose, restlessness, and a persistent cough accompanied by chest congestion, occasional breathing difficulties, and chest pain. She was diagnosed with pneumonia and rhinitis. These conditions affect the respiratory system, making it difficult for her to breathe properly. As a result, immediate medical interventions were initiated to treat severe pneumonia, which causes lung tissue inflammation, and allergic rhinitis. She was prescribed Augmentin (an antibiotic), after Ceftriaxone injection (2g stat), Flamoryl S (a pain reliever and antipyretic), as well as Prednisolone and Cetirizine. Merceline was advised to keep warm and adhere to her prescribed medication regimen. A follow-up and review were scheduled for the following week to monitor her progress. When she came back to the hospital one week after, Merceline was full of life and was doing well.

Pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, pneumonia may lead to the permanent lung damage, respiratory failure, septicaemia (infection entering blood stream and causing sepsis), pleural effusion (accumulation of fluid in the space between the lung and chest wall, which can make breathing difficult), and other life-threatening complications. Allergic rhinitis is an irritation that can spread onto the eyes (conjunctivitis), cause severe inflammation of the sinuses, frequent headaches, and poor sleep quality due to breathing difficulties.