Organisms Affecting Human Health Part 5
Influenza
is an illness affecting upper respiratory tract symptoms of the disease
are fever, headache, and pain in the limbs. Watering of eyes and
running of nose and it is associated with sore throat.
Fig 20.20 influenza virus
Causative agentDifferent strains of viruses are responsible for causing the disease.
The disease is spread by droplet infection (cough, sneezing, and breath).
Treatment and control
There
is no particular treatment of the disease. The patient develops
immunity and recovers. Rest is the only immediate treatment. Disease can
be controlled by keeping patient away from other people.
Measles
Measles
is a very infectious and worldwide disease of children. The disease
starts with fever with cold, cough and a watery discharge from the eyes.
On the third day rashes appear first on the face and then spread over
the whole body.
Causative organism
The
causative organism is a virus, which is air born and is inhaled in
droplets. The disease spreads through the discharge from eyes and nose,
which becomes air-born and spreads rapidly.
Treatment and control
There
is no specific treatment. Child develops immunity and the signs and
symptoms of the disease disappear after seven days. The child should be
given plenty of drink especially milk.
It
is difficult to control the disease because it is highly infectious as
the patient becomes infectious about 2 days before the symptom of the
disease develop.
Poliomyelitis Poliomyelitis is most common among the children but young and old people can also become its victims.
It
begins slowly. The sufferer has very high fever, headache, nausea, fits
and stiffness of limbs. In severe cases, the virus attacks the nerve
fibers of the spinal cord causing paralysis of the limbs and muscles of
the respiratory tract, sometime proving fatal, apart from permanent
disabilities.
Treatment and control
There
are two polio vaccines; Sabin vaccine and Salk vaccine. Sabin vaccine
is more common and is given orally in the form of drops. Two or three
drops are given to infants during their first year which provides life
long protection against polio by developing active immunity against it.
Salk vaccine is injected in to the body but it is not being practiced in
our country.
Causative organism
Poliomyelitis
is caused by virus, which as transmitted by infected water. It is also
transmitted b droplet infection during coughing and sneezing, of the
patient.
Fig 20.21 polio virus
Aids (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)AIDS is a disease in which body’s immune system. The system which protects our body against infections is destroyed. The body becomes unable to protect itself against many other diseases i.e. immune deficiency develops.
Causative organism
The causative organism is a virus called HIV (human immune deficiency virus).
Signs and symptoms
The word syndrome is used in aids because it is a disease with many symptoms occurring at the same time. The patient may suffer from chronic fever, severe diarrhea lasting for months, pneumonia etc. and even cancer.
Aids is usually transmitted by
- Sexual relationship with an infected person.
- Blood transfusion from infected person.
- By sharing contaminated injection needles. For example when drug addicts share their used syringes.
- By using contaminated razors, surgical and dental instruments etc.
- Virus may pass from the infected mother to the fetus during pregnancy.
Fig 20.22 HIV
Prevention and controlAids can be prevented by talking following measures
- By keeping to one’s own sex partner.
- By avoiding drug abuse as drug addicts share hypodermic needless.
- By using disposable syringe.
- By sterilizing the medical equipment before examining the patients.
- By avoiding the sharing of instruments that cause lesion and be contaminated with blood e.g. toothbrushes and razors.
- By using carefully sterilized surgical instruments / equipments.
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