Disease of the Day Flashcards
Lead Poisoning
Lead buildup via ingestion, epidermal contact, inhalation of lead-contaminated products (paint, dust, water, soil)
Originally used as gasoline additive, paint (banned in 1971) and water pipes
Children <6 most vulnerable because can affect physical and mental development
Symptoms: LEAD - Lead lines (accumulate in bones), Encephalopathy (brain degeneration), Anemia and abdominal colic, Wrist/Foot Drop (neural toxicity demyelination)
Treatment: remove source of lead, eat food with high iron and vitamins (reduce absorption),chelation therapy (drug binds to body and excreted)
PH Impact: 0.5 million children 1-5 years in US have blood lead levels above 5 micrograms (above CDC recommendation)
Gonorrhea
STI by bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae via vagina, anal, rectal sex or MTCT during vaginal birth
Infect mucous membrane of genitals, rectum, throat and eyes
Symptoms: usually asymptomatic; burning sensation @ urination, white/yellow discharge, testicular pain, lower abdominal pain (women)
Treatment: dual therapy with two antimicrobials (cephalosporin and azithromycin) (resistance is an issue)
If left untreated → sterility and infertility
PH Impact: second most notifiable disease in 2014; 110 cases/100,000 individuals
Measles
Caused by Rubeola (ssRNA virus) and transmitted via respiratory tract (coughing and sneezing); very contagious
Symptoms: 10 days after infection - cough, fever, runny nose; 2-3 days after initial symptoms - white dots in mouth; 3-7 days after initial symptoms - rash (infectious 4 days before and after this)
Complications: blindness, deafness, bronchitis, pneumonia and encephalitis
Risk factors: <5, >20 years; immunocompromised; Vit A deficient
Vaccination: 2 doses of live-attenuated vaccine (MMR or MMRV)
Treatment: control of symptoms and secondary symptoms (no antivirals) (VitA supp decrease likelihood of complications)
High case-mortality of 10%; outbreak in 2011
Salmonella
Bacterial disease of intestinal tract and bloodstream via contaminated water and food (raw meat, seafood, poultry, raw eggs, fruits+veggies, animal feces
Symptoms of gastroenteritis - bloody stool, chills, diarrhea, fever, muscle pain, headache, vomiting; some develop typhoid fever (headache, skin rash, fever) → 7-14 days of incubation
Risk factors: food consumption, travel, owning pet bird or reptile, stomach or bowel disorder
Pop at risk: <5 years, immunocompromised, people in Asia+Africa because antibiotic resistance
PH Impact: incidence rising in industrialized nations, antimicrobial resistance
Treatment: prevention at all stages of food chain; antibiotics only when serious or high risk
Chlamydia
Most common STI
Obligate intracellular parasite that affects epithelial cells; transmitted via vaginal, anal, oral sex or contact with infected tissue
Symptoms: usually asymptomatic; women - vaginal/penile discharge, bleeding, burning during urination, abdominal pain, painful sex, fever, swelling of testicles
harmfull for women and fetus → ectopic pregnancy and newborn conjunctivitis
Risk factors: sexually activty YA; history of other STDS and sexually risky behavior; concentrated in Africa and southern Asia
Treatment: Azithromycin or Doxycycline, but high chance of repeat infection
Leptospirosis
Zoonotic infection caused by bacteria (corkscrew-shaped) via urine of wild and domesticated animals (rodents); transmitted via direct contact (skin and mucous membranes) with infected animals, contaminated animal products or water source
Symptoms: fever, headaches, chills, muscle aches, abdominal pain (2 days - 4 week incubation period)
Without treatment: kidney/liver failure, meningitis; case fatality rate of 1-5%
Risk factors: temperate/tropical climates, males in low-income countries, people who work with animals, people who go swimming, kayaking in contaminated water
Treatment: early recognition, blood test and use of antibiotics (vaccines available)
Disease underreported due to lack of lab testing and difficulty distinguishing symptoms
Lyme disease
Bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted via blacklegged or deer ticks (bite and attatch for 36-48 hours)
Symptoms: erythema Migrans rash and flu-like symptoms; late stage - heart palpitations, stiffness, dizziness, short-term memory (if chronic no cure)
Treatment: antibiotics
Most common vector borne disease in US
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Virus that causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract
Extremely common (most children have been infected by the time they are 2) and contagious (spreads through person-to-person contact, bodily secretions, touching objects infected person has touched)
Risk factors: greater during fall and winter; <6 months or premature children; older adults with asthma, heart failure, pulmonary disease
Symptoms mimic common cold, can lead to pneumonia or bronchitis
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
Virus; can cause mild to moderate upper respiratory illness
Symptoms: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath
Spread through contact with saliva or droplets spread by coughing
Treatment: broad spectrum antibiotics (like pneumonia), supportive care, antiviral agents
Outbreak in 2003
Syphilis
Bacterial infection, transmitted through sex, can be passed from mother to unborn child
“Great imitator” - has symptoms that reflect many other diseases
Symptoms: painless chancre on genitalia, rash, weakness, discomfort, fever, sore throat
Can cause death if untreated (cause heart problems, brain damage), treatment is very easy with Bicillin injection
Hepatitis B
Liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus
Transmitted through blood and bodily fluids (sharing needles, unprotected sex, etc)
No specific treatment for acute infections, there is a vaccine
Symptoms: most asymptomatic; jaundice, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fever, fatigue
Can cause liver failure and cancer
Tuberculosis
Caused by bacteria, mostly affects the lungs but can spread across the body
Spread through the air via microscopic droplets (coughing, sneezing, etc.)
Risk factor: immunocompromised; contact with TB-infected people
Symptoms: coughing, chest pains, fatigue, chills, fever, weight loss and loss of appetite
Treatment: antibiotics (latent - course; active - cocktail)
“Disease of poverty”: highest rates in developing countries in Africa and Asia. leading cause of death for those with HIV
Estimated that ⅓ of the world’s population is infected with TB
Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurodegenerative disease that results in brain shrinkage
Not just one cause: combo of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors
Progression of symptoms: losing personal possessions, inability to find the right word, poor short term memory, wandering, major personality changes, inability to function alone daily
Most common in those over 65, women, and African Americans
No cure, 1 in 5 Medicare dollars are spent on someone with Alzheimer’s
Treatment: cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA receptor agonists
6th leading cause of death in America
Of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, Alzheimer’s is the only one we can’t prevent, cure, or effectively slow
Schistosomiasis
Parasitic disease; worms grows in the body and are excreted via urine or feces
Parasites live in snails in freshwater and enter the body through contact
Symptoms: itchy red rash, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia, blood in feces, bladder irritation and cancer
Most affected age: 6-20 years old
Treatment: praziquantel
Many people infected, not many treated
Merk Pharmaceuticals provides free medication in high burden countries
Zika
RNA virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, sexual partners, from infected mothers to her fetus, and blood transfusion
Symptoms: many experience none, some mild symptoms like pain, fever, rash, headache
Men, women, and children are all at risk
Outbreaks recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific Islands
No commercially available vaccine, symptoms can be treated with common medicines and rest
