Case Studies for Human Parasitic and Infectious Diseases
Introduction:
Each year approximately one third of all human deaths are caused
by infectious and parasitic diseases. In developing countries, that
percentage increases to almost fifty percent. While some of these diseases have existed for centuries, other viral diseases such as HIV and SARS have emerged in the human population much more recently. Globalization has allowed for the transfer of these microbial pathogens across continents. In order to gain a better understanding of human parasitic diseases, you will investigate one parasitic or infectious disease and use the information to create a case study of the disease.
A case study presents readers with a story that includes a problem to solve. Your job in writing the case study is to provide the readers with enough information to solve the puzzle without directly given them the answer. In order to solve the mystery, the readers will need to read, analyze, and interpret the story. Readers might also need to conduct their own research before proposing a solution. In order to write a case study, you must become the expert on the parasitic or infectious disease that you will be writing about. Once you have collected the necessary information, you must weave your facts into the form of a story.
Grading Criteria
1. The Case Study is written in the form of a story. 5 points
(The case study is not a list of facts.)
2. The facts given in the case study address the 5 Ws and H. 18 points
Who?
The person designated to have the disease should be from a high-risk population, if the disease is commonly found within a certain group.
What?
What organism causes the disease?
Where?
Choose a location where the disease is most commonly found.
When?
Was the disease most prevalent in a certain time period? Is it seasonal? If so, be sure to incorporate that information into your description.
Why?
What did the infected person come in contact with that would cause the disease? Examples: mosquito bite, drinking contaminated water, etc.
How?
How is a person affected by the disease? List major symptoms/effects.
3. The case study ends with a question to answer. 5 points
This assignment must:
· Have a title…that doesn’t give the answer
· be typed in 12 pt. font
· be double-spaced
· include the completed graphic organizer that you used to collect your information 12 points
Sample:
Grading Criteria
1. Story 20 points
2. 5 Ws and H 60 points
3. Question 20 points
Human Parasitic Diseases Case Study
Margaret is a thirty-two year old woman living in Florida. In the fifth week of her pregnancy she had a miscarriage. In trying to determine why Margaret had the miscarriage, her doctor learns that Margaret and her husband recently purchased a kitten from Petco. Not knowing any better, Margaret had been in charge of cleaning out the litter box. In conducting a blood test, the doctor discovers that Margaret is infected with cysts from a protist parasite.
What is the most likely cause of Margaret’s condition?
Evaluation:
What grade would you give to this student?
Grading Criteria:
1. Is the case study written in the form of a story?
2. Use the case study to determine if the writer has covered the 5 Ws and H.
(See chart on next page)
3. Does the case study pose a question at the end?
Researching the 5Ws and H
Use the case study on the previous page to complete the table.
Factual Information gathered through research / Translated to part of story that says:Who?
Who is at highest risk of getting the disease? / Most people with a healthy immune system are able to fight off the parasitic worm that causes Toxoplasmosis. An unborn child is most likely to contract the diseases if the mother becomes infected prior to or during pregnancy.
What?
What organism causes the disease? / Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
Where?
Where the disease is most commonly found? / People living in hot, humid climates and lower altitudes are most likely to become infected.
When?
During what time period did/does the disease occur?
Is the disease seasonal? / Toxoplasmosis is the third leading cause of death due to foodborne illness in the United States.
Why?
Why did a person get the disease? What did they come in contact with to get the disease? Ex. mosquito bite, drinking contaminated water, etc. / Cats become infected with Toxoplasma gondii when they eat infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. The parasite is transmitted back into the environment in the cat’s feces. In the cat’s feces, the parasite is in a microscopic oocyst form.
In house cats, the oocysts contaminate the litter box. Cats that are allowed outside also can contaminate the soil and water. This includes sandboxes.
Kittens are more likely to spread the oocysts than mature cats, if the adult cat had been previously infected.
How?
How is a person affected by the disease? List symptoms. / The earlier the transmission occurs, the more severe the damage is to the unborn child. Toxoplasma gondii infection can lead to miscarriages and stillborn births.
Children born with toxoplasmosis may have a head size that is abnormally large or small.
Resources used to research this disease. (Please include your citations in MLA format here.)
"Toxoplasmosis." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 11 Jan. 2008. Department of Health and Human Services. 15 July 2008 <www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/>.
Name: Date:
Researching the 5Ws and H for ______
Use the table to collect information for your case study.
Factual Information gathered through research / Translated to part of story that says:Who?
Who is at highest risk of getting the disease?
What?
What organism causes the disease?
Where?
Where the disease is most commonly found?
When?
During what time period did/does the disease occur?
Is the disease seasonal?
Why?
Why did a person get the disease? What did they come in contact with to get the disease? Ex. mosquito bite, drinking contaminated water, etc.
How?
How is a person affected by the disease? List symptoms.
Resources Used to Research this disease:
1. Summary: This is a brief introduction of the engagement, with an emphasis on problem and outcome. It should sell the reader on the value of digging further into the details of your solution. If a prospect only read your summary, would they at least understand what you did and the value you believe it offered?
2. Backstory: Think of this as the beginning, the once-upon-a-time part. You’re setting up the case study by providing an introduction to its key players — you and your client — and your respective points of view. Remember, how you describe this relationship will make it easier or harder for a prospect to imagine themselves in a similar relationship with you.
3. Problem: Describe the problem, what is it and what causes it?
4. Solution: What did you do? This covers your process, your strategic prowess, your technical capabilities, your team dynamic, your style.
5. Outcome: What were the results?
6. Reflection: What has the case study taught you?