Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
DISEASES
Diptheria
An infection of local tissue of URT with
production of toxin which causes systemic
effects on hearth and peripheral tissues.
Diphtheria is an infection caused by the
Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium.
Diphtheria is spread (transmitted) from
person to person, usually through respiratory
droplets, like from coughing or sneezing.
Rarely, people can get sick from touching
open sores (skin lesions) or clothes that
touched open sores of someone sick with
diphtheria. A person also can get diphtheria
by coming in contact with an object, like a
toy, that has the bacteria that cause
diphtheria on it.
When the bacteria that cause diphtheria get into and attach
to the lining of the respiratory system, which includes parts
of the body that help you breathe, they produce a poison
(toxin) that can cause:
Weakness
Sore throat
Fever
Swollen glands in the neck
The poison destroys healthy tissues in the respiratory
system. Within two to three days, the dead tissue forms a thick,
gray coating that can build up in the throat or nose. This thick
gray coating is called a "pseudomembrane." It can cover tissues
in the nose, tonsils, voice box, and throat, making it very hard to
breathe and swallow.
The poison may also get into the blood stream and cause damage
to the heart, kidneys, and nerves.
The best way to prevent diphtheria is to get vaccinated. In the United
States, there are four vaccines used to prevent diphtheria: DTaP, Tdap, DT,
and Td. Each of these vaccines prevents diphtheria and tetanus; DTaP and
Tdap also help prevent pertussis (whooping cough). DTaP and DT are given to
children younger than seven years old, while Tdap and Td are given to older
children, teens, and adults.
Giardiasis
Giardiasis is a diarrheal disease. Once a person or
animal (for example, cats, dogs, cattle, deer, and
beavers) has been infected with Giardia, the
parasite lives in the intestines and is passed in
feces (poop). Once outside the body, Giardia can
sometimes survive for weeks or months. Giardia
can be found within every region of the U.S. and Giardia
around the world.
It is caused by the microscopic parasite Giardia. A
parasite is an organism that feeds off of another to
survive.
Giardia is protected by an outer shell that allows it
to survive outside the body for long periods of time
and makes it tolerant to chlorine disinfection.
While the parasite can be spread in different ways,
water (drinking water and recreational water) is
the most common mode of transmission.
Giardiasis is the most frequently diagnosed intestinal
parasitic disease in the United States and among travelers
with chronic diarrhea . Signs and symptoms may vary and
can last for 1 to 2 weeks or longer. In some cases, people
infected with Giardia have no symptoms
Acute symptoms include
Diarrhea
Gas
Greasy stools that tend to float
Stomach or abdominal cramps
Upset stomach or nausea/vomiting
Dehydration (loss of fluids)
Other, less common symptoms include itchy skin, hives, and
swelling of the eye and joints. Sometimes, the symptoms of
giardiasis might seem to resolve, only to come back again Jejunal mucosa in giardiasis
after several days or weeks. Giardiasis can cause weight loss
and failure to absorb fat, lactose, vitamin A and vitamin B12.
In children, severe giardiasis might delay physical and mental
growth, slow development, and cause malnutrition.
Several drugs can be used to treat Giardia infection. Effective treatments
include metronidazole, tinidazole, and nitazoxanide. Alternatives to these
medications include paromomycin, quinacrine, and furazolidone. Some of
these drugs may not be routinely available in the United States.
Different factors may shape how effective a drug regimen will be, including
medical history, nutritional status, and condition of the immune system.
Therefore, it is important to discuss treatment options with a healthcare
provider.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
that can infect both men and women. It can cause
infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is
a very common infection, especially among young
people ages 15-24 years.
It is caused by infection with the Neisseria
gonorrhoeae bacterium. N. gonorrhoeae infects
the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract,
including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in
women, and the urethra in women and men. N.
gonorrhoeae can also infect the mucous
membranes of the mouth, throat, eyes, and
rectum.
You can get gonorrhea by having vaginal, anal, or
oral sex with someone who has gonorrhea. A
pregnant woman with gonorrhea can give the
infection to her baby during childbirth.
Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However,
men who do have symptoms, may have:
A burning sensation when urinating;
A white, yellow, or green discharge from the genitalia;
Painful or swollen testicles (although this is less common).
Most women with gonorrhea do not have any symptoms. Even when
a woman has symptoms, they are often mild and can be mistaken for a
bladder or vaginal infection. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of
developing serious complications from the infection, even if they dont
have any symptoms.
Symptoms in women can include:
Painful or burning sensation when urinating;
Increased vaginal discharge;
Vaginal bleeding between periods. Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Gonorrhea can be cured with the right treatment. CDC recommends dual
therapy, or using two drugs, to treat gonorrhea - a single dose of 250mg of
intramuscular ceftriaxone AND 1g of oral azithromycin. It is important to take
all of the medication prescribed to cure gonorrhea. Medication for gonorrhea
should not be shared with anyone. Although medication will stop the
infection, it will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease.
Antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhea is of increasing concern, and successful
treatment of gonorrhea is becoming more difficult. If a persons symptoms
continue for more than a few days after receiving treatment, he or she should
return to a health care provider to be reevaluated.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Toxins,
certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and
bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis.
Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral
infections that affect the liver; the most common
types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results
from infection with the Hepatitis A virus. It can
range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few Hepatitis A Virus
weeks to a severe illness lasting several months
Hepatovirus A is a species of virus in the order
Picornavirales in the family Picornaviridae and is the
type species of the genus Hepatovirus. Humans and
vertebrates serve as natural hosts..
Hepatitis A is usually spread when the Hepatitis A
virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects,
food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (or stool)
of an infected person. A person can get Hepatitis A
through:
Some people with Hepatitis A do not have
any symptoms. If you do have symptoms,
they may include the following:
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Clay-colored bowel movements
Joint pain
Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or eyes)
The best way to prevent Hepatitis A is through vaccination with the Hepatitis
A vaccine. Vaccination is recommended for all children, for travelers to
certain countries, and for people at high risk for infection with the virus.
Frequent handwashing with soap and warm water after using the bathroom,
changing a diaper, or before preparing food can help prevent the spread of
Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
Hepatitis B and C is a contagious liver disease
that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting
a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.
It could be either acute or chronic
Acute Hepatitis virus infection is a short-term
illness that occurs within the first 6 months after
someone is exposed to the Hepatitis B virus. Acute
infection can but does not always lead to
chronic infection.
Chronic Hepatitis virus infection is a long-term
illness that occurs when the Hepatitis B virus
remains in a persons body.
Hepatitis B Virus
It is caused by a Hepatitis B Virus which is a double stranded DNA type, a species
of the genus Orthohepadnavirus, which is likewise a part of the Hepadnaviridae
family of viruses
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small (5565 nm in size), enveloped, positive- sense
single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. Hepatitis C virus is the cause of
hepatitis C and some cancers such as liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma,
abbreviated HCC) and lymphomas in humans.
Hepatitis B and C is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with
the Hepatitis B and C virus enters the body of a person who is not infected. People
can become infected with the virus during activities such as:
Birth (spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth)
Sex with an infected partner
Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment
Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person
Direct contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
Exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharp instruments
Symptoms of acute Hepatitis B and C, if they appear, can include:
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Clay-colored bowel movements Hepatitis C Virus
Joint pain
Jaundice (yellow color in the skin or the eyes)
There is no medication available to treat acute Hepatitis B and C. During this
short-term infection, doctors usually recommend rest, adequate nutrition,
and fluids, although some people may need to be hospitalized.
The best way to prevent Hepatitis B is by getting the Hepatitis B vaccine.
The Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective and is usually given as 3-4 shots
over a 6-month period.
However, there is still no vaccines yet to prevent Hepatitis C.
If a person has had one type of viral hepatitis in the past, it is still possible
to get the other types.
Listeriosis
Listeria primarily causes infections of the central
nervous system (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, brain
abscess, cerebritis) and bacteremia in those who are
immunocompromised, pregnant women, and those at the
extremes of age (newborns and the elderly), as well as
gastroenteritis in healthy persons who have been
severely infected.
It is a bacterial infection caused by Listeria
monocytogenes. Listeria may infect specific locations
within the human body (brain or spinal cord membranes Listeria monocytogenes
or the bloodstream).
Listeriosis is usually caused by eating food contaminated
with Listeria monocytogenes. If infection occurs during
pregnancy, Listeria bacteria can spread to the baby
through the placenta.
Listeriosis can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the
person and the part of the body affected. Listeria can cause fever
and diarrhea similar to other foodborne germs, but this type of
Listeria infection is rarely diagnosed. Symptoms in people with
invasive listeriosis, meaning the bacteria has spread beyond the
gut, depend on whether the person is pregnant.
Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only fever
and other flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches.
However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, Effect of Listeriosis on child
stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the
newborn.
People other than pregnant women: Symptoms can include
headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions in
addition to fever and muscle aches.
Listeriosis is usually diagnosed when a bacterial culture (a type of
laboratory test) grows Listeria monocytogenes from a body tissue
or fluid, such as blood, spinal fluid, or the placenta.
Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics.
Measles
Is an acute, highly contagious viral disease capable of
producing epidemics. It is usually considered a childhood
disease, it can be contracted at any age.
It is caused by Measles virus, a single-stranded, negative-
sense, enveloped (non-segmented) RNA virus of the genus Rashes: most common symptoms
Morbillivirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. Humans are for measles
the natural hosts of the virus; no animal reservoirs are known
to exist
Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the nose and
throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others
through coughing and sneezing. Also, measles virus can live for
up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person
coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated
air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses,
or mouths, they can become infected. Measles is so contagious Mouth of a patient with Koplik
that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that spots, an early sign of measles
person who are not immune will also become infected. infection.
The symptoms of measles generally appear about seven to 14 days after a
person is infected.
Measles typically begins with
high fever,
cough,
runny nose (coryza), and
red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may
appear inside the mouth.
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. It usually begins
as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to
the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Small raised bumps may also appear on top
of the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from
the head to the rest of the body. When the rash appears, a person's fever may
spike to more than 104 Fahrenheit.
After a few days, the fever subsides and the rash fades.
People get MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Children should get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at
12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
Teens and adults also should also be up to date on their MMR vaccination.
Children may also get MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps,
rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). This vaccine is only licensed for use in
children who are 12 months through 12 years of age.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection. It causes red
sores that can break open, ooze fluid, and develop a
yellow-brown crust. These sores can occur anywhere
on the body.
Impetigo is caused by one of two kinds of bacteria-
strep (streptococcus) or staph (staphylococcus).
Often these bacteria enter the body when the skin
has already been irritated or injured because of other
skin problems such as eczema, poison ivy, insect
bites, burns, or cuts. Children may get impetigo after
they have had a cold or allergies that have made the
Blisters breaks open of an Impetigo patient
skin under the nose raw. But impetigo can also
develop in completely healthy skin.
It is spread person to person through direct contact
with discharged from blisters.
Symptoms for Impetigo are
That begin as small red spots, then change to
blisters that eventually break open. The sores are
typically not painful, but they may be itchy.
That ooze fluid and look crusty.
That increase in size and number. Sores may be streptococcus
as small as a pimple or larger than a coin.
Impetigo is treated with antibiotics. For cases of
mild impetigo, a doctor will prescribe an antibiotic
ointment or cream to put on the sores. For cases
of more serious impetigo, a doctor may also
prescribe antibiotic pills.
staphylococcus
Kawasaki Syndrome
Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as Kawasaki
syndrome, is an acute febrile illness of unknown
cause that primarily affects children younger
than 5 years of age.
It is still unknown what causes Kawasaki
Syndrome
Mode of transmission is still unkown
Clinical signs include fever, rash, swelling of the
hands and feet, irritation and redness of the Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease
whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the
neck, and irritation and inflammation of the
mouth, lips, and throat.
Because of the risk of complications, Kawasaki disease is usually treated
in hospital. Treatment should be done promptly for faster recovery and
to reduce the risk of complications.
Two main medicines for Kawasaki disease treatment:
Aspirin - children under 16 should not be given aspirin. However, it is
prescribed if a child has Kawasaki disease. Children with Kawasaki disease
have a very high blood platelet count, making them very susceptible to
blood clots forming in their bloodstream. Aspirin helps prevent blood clots,
as well as reducing the fever, rash and joint inflammation.
AH5N1 Virus
The spread of avian influenza A viruses from one ill person to another has
been reported very rarely, and has been limited, inefficient and not
sustained. However, because of the possibility that avian influenza A viruses
could change and gain the ability to spread easily between people,
monitoring for human infection and person-to-person transmission is
extremely important for public health.
The reported signs and symptoms of low pathogenic avian
influenza* (LPAI) A virus infections in humans have ranged
from conjunctivitis to influenza-like illness (e.g., fever,
cough, sore throat, muscle aches) to lower respiratory
disease (pneumonia) requiring hospitalization.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A virus
infections in people have been associated with a wide range
of illness from conjunctivitis only, to influenza-like illness,
to severe respiratory illness (e.g. shortness of breath,
difficulty breathing, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress,
viral pneumonia, respiratory failure) with multi-organ A(H7N9) Virus
disease, sometimes accompanied by nausea, abdominal
pain, diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes neurologic changes
(altered mental status, seizures).
Currently, the best way to prevent infection with avian influenza A viruses is
to avoid sources of exposure whenever possible. Most human infections with
avian influenza A viruses have occurred following direct close or prolonged
contact with sick or dead infected poultry. Infected birds shed avian influenza
virus in their saliva, mucous and feces. Human infections with bird flu viruses
can happen when enough virus gets into a person's eyes, nose or mouth, or is
inhaled.
For those infected by Avian Flu, CDC currently recommends oseltamivir,
peramivir, or zanamivir for treatment of human infection with avian Influenza
A viruses. Analyses of available avian influenza viruses circulating worldwide
suggest that most viruses are susceptible to oseltamivir, peramivir, and
zanamivir. However, some evidence of antiviral resistance has been reported
in HPAI Asian H5N1 viruses and influenza A H7N9 viruses isolated from some
human cases. Monitoring for antiviral resistance among avian influenza A
viruses is crucial and ongoing.