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Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 10-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with his parents. The boy complains of fever, neck stiffness, and drowsiness for the last several days. His past medical history is noncontributory. The boy was born at 39 weeks gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery. He is up to date on all vaccines and is meeting all developmental milestones. There were no sick contacts at home or at school. The family did not travel out of the area recently. His heart rate is 100/min, respiratory rate is 22/min, blood pressure is 105/65 mm Hg, and temperature is 40.5ºC (104.9°F). On physical examination, he appears unwell and confused. His heart rate is elevated with a regular rhythm and his lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. During the examination, he experiences a right-sided focal seizure, which is controlled with lorazepam. A head CT reveals bilateral asymmetrical hypodensities of the temporal region. A lumbar puncture is performed and reveals the following:
WBC count 25/mm3
Cell predominance lymphocytes
Protein elevated
The patient is started on a medication to treat the underlying cause of his symptoms. What is the mechanism of action of this medication?
assistant
Inhibition of DNA polymerase