Infectious and Communicable Diseases

• COVID-19

  caused by SARS-CoV-2 ; part of large group of viruses common in humans and different animal species
• Signs & symptoms of COVID-19

  • cough
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • muscle pain
  • loss of taste or smell
  • fever & chills
• Possible Treatments for COVID-19

  • Remdesivir ; farthest along in clinical trials & granted emergency authorization in May 2020!
  • Plasma from recovered individuals
• H1N1 Flu


  caused by unique mixture of DNA found in avian, swine, and human viruses!
• Diagnostics for H1N1 Flu

  • real-time polymerase chain reaction
  • viral culture from blood
  • fourfold increase in H1N1 neutralizing antibodies
• E. Coli O157: H7 


  emerging cause of food-borne illness

  
  

  associating w/ eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef AND drinking unpasteurized milk or fruit juices
• E. Coli lives in intestines of healthy cattle
• E.coli bacteria present on cow udders or on equipment can get into raw milk
• Signs & symptoms of E.Coli O157:H7 infection

  • bloody diarrhea
  • abdominal cramps
• In elderly persons & children, E.coli infection can cause

  hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Diagnostics for E.coli O157: H7

  • detecting bacteria in the stool
• Anthrax


  occurs in three forms

  1. cutaneous or skin infections
  2. inhalation
  3. intestinal
• Farmers and ranchers have known of anthrax for many years due to possible exposure to infected cattle & sheep!
• humans develop anthrax after direct exposure to Bacillus anthracis bacterium!
• Inhalation anthrax was found in mail sent to U.S Senate members in 2001!
• Bubonic plague is transmitted through bite of infected flea OR through exposure to infected material
• Pneumonic plague is transmitted through close contact w/ infected individuals AND affects lungs!
• Plague is caused by Y. pestis bacterium found in fleas of rodents


  if released in aerosol attack, many individuals would become infected within 1 to 6 days!
• Influenza (flu)

  contagious respiratory disease characterized by fever, chills, headache & myalgia
• School-age children & elderly are especially susceptible to the flu

  Occurs in epidemic outbreaks in winter & spring
• Flu is caused by viruses of the Orthomyxoviridae family
• Signs & symptoms of Influenza

  • fever
  • chills
  • headache
  • muscle aches
• HIV/AIDS

  AIDS is associated w/ HIV infection!
• HIV predominantly infects the immune system's T4 lymphocytes


  replicates by taking over genetic machinery of T-cell
• Some w/ HIV may develop mononucleosis-like syndrome characterized by fever & flu-like symptoms!
• Most common HIV pulmonary infection is Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia !
• Neurological symptoms of HIV infection

  • memory loss
  • headache
  • depression
  • confusion
  • visual disturbances
• Malignancies common w/ AIDS includes Kaposi sarcoma

  purple nodules in the skin, lymph nodes, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs
• There is no cure for AIDS!
• HIV resistance to some antiviral agents prompts need for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) medications!
• Rubeola (Measles)


  highly communicable respiratory infection characterized by fever and characteristic rash
• Rubeola is most common in school-age children!
• Rubeola is caused by Morbillivirus Rubeola virus


  incubation period of 10 to 20 days
• Second2nd day of Rubeola infection

  • 101F to 103F temperature
  • Small red Koplick spots w/ white centers on oral mucosa
• Fourth4th Day of Rubeola infection

  • 104F to 106F in temperature
  • red macopapular rash on face that rapidly spreads
• Rubeola usually subsides 5 days after rash appears!
• Immunizations of rubeola

  MMR or MMRV vaccines
• Rubella (German Measles)


  differs from rubeola in its short course, mild fever, and relative freedom from complications
• Rubella is NOT as contagious, and is most common in teens and young adults!
• Rubella is caused by rubella virus

  incubation period of 14 to 21 days