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| Communicable Diseases - Continued |
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| This is the most communicable disease in our country and effects mainly children in the age group 0-15 years. Every year 2.5 million people suffer from typhoid. Caused by bacterium salmonella typhi, it passes out through the excreta of the infected person. This is spread by houseflies or directly through contaminated food especially milk and eggs. |
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| Symptoms |
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 Headache and high temperature for three four weeks. The temperature reaches its peak in the afternoon. |
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 If care is not taken, relapse is common. |
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| Prevention |
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| Proper sanitation, control of flies, anti typhoid inoculation are some of the precautions to be taken. |
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| Control |
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| The drug of choice is Ciproflox. |
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| Diarrhoea manifests itself with frequent loose motions accompanied with griping abdominal pain. Bacteria such as E.coli, Shigella spp, some types of protozoa and viruses cause this disease. |
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| Symptoms |
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 Frequent loose motion and vomiting leading to dehydration. |
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 If neglected dehydration sets in. The patient becomes irritable, eyes look sunken, nose is pinched and the tongue and inner rides of the cheeks appear dry. There is sudden weight loss, pulse is weak accompanied with deep breathing and convulsions. |
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| Prevention |
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 Eatables should be kept covered to prevent contamination through dust and flies. |
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 Fruits and vegetables should be well washed with potassium permanganate, before use. |
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 Water should be boiled before drinking. Filtered water and mineral water are also safe. |
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 Proper sanitation and toilet facilities are essential. |
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 Proper personal hygiene, like washing hands before eating or handling food is important. |
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 Food that is stale or has got rancid should not be consumed. |
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 Public should be educated about community hygiene. |
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| Control |
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 Total bed rest is advised for the patient till the illness is fully controlled. |
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 Frequent vomiting and loose motions can lead to dehydration. Conscious effort must be made to increase the fluid intake. ORS can be made at home using one teaspoonful of sugar and a pinch of salt dissolved in 200ml of water. ORS must be administered sip by sip at short intervals. |
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 Antimicrobal drugs and anti diarrhoeal agents should be administered. |
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 A good home remedy is to take the pulp of boiled raw banana, turmeric, salt and lime. |
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 Husk of Isabgol seed (Plantago Ovata) with water or curd will give relief. |
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| Anthrax is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium- Bacillus anthracis. It is a disease found commonly in domestic animals such as cows, goats and sheep, but human beings can be infected when exposed to the infected animal. The meat of the infected animal if consumed without being cooked properly can cause the disease. The spores of the bacteria are used in biological warfare. |
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| Symptoms |
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| Anthrax infection can occur in three forms |
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 Cutaneous (skin): This type is rare but 20% result in death. |
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 Inhalation: Running nose followed by breathing difficulty and finally death. |
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 Intestinal: Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, pain and finally vomiting blood. This is ultimately fatal. |
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| Prevention |
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| Course of 4 subcutaneous infections of anthrax vaccine is adviced. |
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| Control |
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| If detected early it can be cured, with effective antibiotics. |
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| Given below is a chart listing the communicable diseases we have learnt in this chapter, their symptoms, prevention and control. |
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| Communicable diseases |
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