NATIONAL CENTER FOR CASE STUDY TEACHING IN SCIENCE

Take a Deep Breath:
A Case of Respiratory Illness

by

Brianna S. Nelson, Kelsey N. Aguirre, Alee L. Adams, Emily E.Brodbeck, and Breanna N. Harris Department of BiologicalSciences
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

Part I – Symptoms

Callie was 26 years old when she opened a bakery called“Callie’s Cupcakes” in downtown San Francisco with her fiancé,Jeremy. Despite the competitive market, her business was booming;everyone loved the clever recipes and the trendy atmosphere.Between running their fast-growing business and planning for theirwedding, Callie hadn’t been able to keep to her usual eight hoursof sleep a night. Although she had always lived a very healthylifestyle, exercising daily and eating healthy, she just hadn’tbeen feeling herself lately. She was tired all the time, haddifficulty breathing, felt stressed, coughed up sputum,consistently ran a low-grade fever, and had lost weight as herappetite decreased. None of these symptoms alone had beenparticularly alarming so she had put off seeing her physician for afew weeks.

Questions

1. What are Callie’s symptoms? List all that were mentioned.

2. Based on the symptoms presented, what are three possiblerespiratory infectious diseases Callie could be suffering from?Explain why.

3. Based on Callie’s symptoms and your answers so far, it seemsCallie is having trouble with her respiratory system. Severalrespiratory conditions can impact gas exchange. Describe theprocess of gas exchange in the lung (alveoli).