Neglected tropical diseases 1 Flashcards
What are tropical diseases?
All diseases that occur solely, or principally, in the tropics. In practice, the term is often taken to refer to infectious diseases that thrive in hot, humid conditions
What does neglected in neglected tropical diseases mean?
don’t receive the attention for research funding needed
Where do neglected tropical diseases occur?
Low-income populations in the developing world
Why may tropical diseases occur in the developing world?
Poor sanitation, lack of clean water, insufficient healthcare access
What are helminths?
Parasitic worms
What are some broad causes of tropical diseases?
Bacteria, protozoa, virus, helminths
Other name for leprosy?
Hansens disease
WHich disease was the first time that a bacterium was linked to a disease in man?
Leprosy
What is leprosy caused by?
A chronic, progressive bacterial infection by Mycobacterium Leprae
What does acid fast mean in bacteria?
The bacteria resist decolourisation by acids during staining procedures
How is leprosy transmitted?
By infectious droplets (aerosol)–> coughs, sneezes)
By eating infected armadillos
What kind of exposure to infectious droplets is needed for leprosy to transmit?
Prolonged
How do armadillos get leorpsy?
They are naturally infected by mycobacterium leprae
WHat is the speed of multiplication of M.l?
SLow
What is the incubation time of M.l?
Average is 5 years but can be up to 20
Leprosy symptoms?
Skin sores, nerve damage, muscle weakness
Issue with nerve damage in leprosy?
Patient wont feel pain so further injury may go unnnoticed
What symptoms occur as a result of untreated, severe leprosy?
Progressive damage to skin, nerves, limbs, eyes, as well as extremities dropping off
How is disability caused by leprosy prevented?
Treatment in the early stages
How is leprosy treated?
Multi drug therapy
Anti inflammatories for the nerve pain
What is the BCG vaccine mainly used to treat?
Tuberculosis
Which vaccine can provide some protection against leprosy?
BCG vaccine
How is leprosy detected?
Slit skin smear
What is the first sign of leprosy?
A patch on the skin
What is done if a patient presents with a patch on the skin indicating leprosy?
Sample is collected from a small incision in the skin
What is done to the sample collected from the skin slit in leprosy?
Stained to look for M.Leprae
What is the staining method used to look for M.leprae?
Modified Ziehl Neelsen’s method
What colour are the M.leprae in the stain?
Pink, rod shaped/curved
How is leprosy classified?
The number of bacillus per view
What is the classification of leprosy?
A spectrum from tuberculoid leprosy to lepromatous leprosy
