An 8-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with right upper abdominal pain associated with vomiting, headache, and fever. The boy had been seen in the ED 2 months previously for a sore throat, cough, and headache. After the first visit to the ED, he was treated with amoxicillin. He and his family emigrated from Africa 8 months ago. Generally, the boy appears to be in good health. His immunizations are current, and he has no allergies. The attending physician ordered a CT scan and identifies a mass in the left hepatic lobe. The attending physician ordered a CBC, microbiology tests, chemistry, coagulation, and a hepatitis panel. The laboratory results indicate some type of infection and inflammatory condition.
Questions:
a. Identify and differentiate the patient's signs and symptoms.
b. Explain whether this patient likely has an acute or a chronic infection.