10 Human Health and Diseases - part 05 - Filariasis,Typhoid, Pneumonia

 

10 Human Health and Diseases - part 05 - Filariasis,Typhoid, Pneumonia

Filariasis/ Elephantiasis :
  • Caused by thread like worms nematodes. 
  • These nematode parasites are transported from person to person via mosquito bite. 
  • Filariasis can be divided into 3 subtypes as 
  1. Lymphatic Filariasis, 
  2. Subcutaneous Filariasis (e.g. Loa loa, Mansonella spp.) and
  3. Serous (abdominal)cavity Filariasis (e.g. Mansonella spp.).
  • Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis) is caused by the worms - Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Brugia timori.
Signs and symptoms :-
  • Edema with thickening of skin and underlying tissue. 
  • Wuchereria bancrofti affects the legs, arms, breasts, scrotum, etc.
  • In lymphatic filariasis, worms infect lymphatic system and causes enlargement of lymph vessels and nodes. This is elephantiasis i.e. limbs are swollen like legs of elephant.
  • Lymphedema i.e. accumulation of lymh fluid in tissue causing swelling.
  • Hydrocele i.e. testis are enlarged due to accumulation of lymphatic fluid in testis.
Mode of transmission : 
  • Wuchereria bancrofti is transmitted to human body by female Culex mosquito.
  • The larvae escape mosquito body and arrive on the human skin. 
  • They penetrate the skin, undergo two moultings before they become adults and settle in the lymphatic system. 
  • Incubation period can be as long as 8-16 months.
Diagnosis and Treatment : 
  • Use of diethyl -carbamazine citrate twice a day for three weeks and thereafter for five days every six month is effective against filarial worms.
Prevention and Control : 
  • Avoid mosquito bite by using mosquito nets and insect repellents.
  • Eradication of mosquitoes is essential for control of filariasis.

Typhoid :

  • Is an acute infection of intestine.
  • Caused by Salmonella typhi. 
  • It is Gram -ve bacteria found in intestinal lumen of infected preson. 
  • Pathogenicity is due to “O”- antigen, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS), present on surface coat. 
  • Flagella contains “H”- antigen.
Signs and Symptoms :
  • Prolonged fever as high as 1040F.
  • General nausea, fatigue, headache.
  • Abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea
  • Rose-coloured rash on skin.
  • White coat on tongue, cough.
  • Anorexia (loss of apetite).
  • If not treated- breathlessness, irregular heartbeats, haemorrhage.
Mode of transmission :
  • It is a food and water borne disease.
  • Insects like housefly and cockroaches feeding on fecal matter, may transfer the bacteria to food material.
  • Poor hygiene habits and poor sanitation conditions are responsible for the spread of typhoid.
Diagnosis and Treatment :- 
  • Widal test is used for diagnosis of typhoid. 
  • Treatment of typhoid involves surgical removal of gall bladder in severe cases. 
  • Antibiotics like Chloromycetin is helpful treatment.
  • For prevention of typhoid WHO recommendes two vaccines as oral (Ty21a vaccine) and injectable (Typhoid polysaccharide vaccine) sold as- typhim vi and typherix.

Pneumonia :
  • Is an inflammatory condition of lungs or alveoli of lungs. 
  • Caused by a variety of pathogens which may be viruses like - 
  1. Influenza virus
  2. Adenovirus,
  3. Para influenza and 
  4. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) or 
  5. Bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae or fungal pathogens 
  • e.g. Pneumocystis jirovecii and Pneumocystis carinii. 
  • Pneumonia can also be caused by chemical burns or physical injury to lungs.
Signs and Symptoms :-
  • Cough produces yellow or greenish sputum or phlegm.
  • High fever.
  • Shortness of breath (Dyspnea).
  • Chest pain during deep breath or coughing.
  • Loss of appetite, fatigue, headaches, vomiting, joint pains a nd muscle aches.
Mode of transmission : 

  • Pneumonia mostly spreads by direct person to person contact.
  • It can also spread via droplets released by infected person or even by using shared clothes and utensils.
Diagnosis and Treatment :- 
  • Course of treatment depends upon pathogen leading to the disease. 
  • For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics like Benzyl penicillin, Ampicillin and Chloramphenicol are effective.
Prevention and Control :-
  • Vaccination is important prevention in both children and adults. 
  • Vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae in first year of life, help greatly to reduce the chances of causing Pneumonia.

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