Pneumonia: Sign, Symptoms, Side Effects and Treatment

Introduction

It is an infection of lungs caused by microorganism such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Although different microorganisms can cause pneumonia, and different types of pneumonia may affect children in different age group, but most common pneumonia is caused by virus. Some of the common viruses responsible for causing pneumonia include adenoviruses, influenza viruses (flu), rhinovirus and respiratory syncytical virus (RSV).

Sign and Symptoms

• In initial stage the infection begins nose and throat and depending upon the age and physical health of child the additional symptoms of pneumonia develop fever, cough, rapid breathing or breathing with grunting, chills, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, poor feeding and chest pain.
• Sometimes the child may also start breathing rapidly.
• Pneumonia caused by bacteria is relatively quick and child feels high fever and rapid breathing.
• Pneumonia caused by viruses, is less severe than the pneumonia caused by viruses and symptoms appear gradually in this case.
• Sometimes in the case of pneumonia caused by a specific microorganism, the additional symptom specific to that microorganism appears and can easily be diagnosed.

Incubation

The incubation period may vary from person to person as well as the type of bacteria or virus causing pneumonia. The incubation period for the most of the bacteria and viruses is in the range of one day to one week.

Pneumonia types

Depending upon the affected area of lung, pneumonia can be either

• Lobar pneumonia or
  
• Bronchopneumonia

Contagiousness

Some of the viruses responsible for causing upper respiratory infection (Infection of throat and nose) are contagious in nature. To prevent spreading the virus, it is best to keep the patient away from general public and family members. It is also necessary to keep your child away from any person who has infection of throat and nose.

In general pneumonia is not contagious, but the viruses and bacteria causing pneumonia may infect other persons. Other persons in family should avoid coming in contact with the child if the child is suffering from nose and throat infection. Other family members should not use other common use clothes, towels and other items.

Mortality rate

• For hospitalized patients, required hospitalization for pneumonia, the mortality rate is around 10 % to 25%. If patients are hospitalized for other conditions, the mortality rate is higher than 25%.
• For stillborn and very early infants the death rate due to pneumonia is about 20%.
• For AIDS patients, the mortality rate due to pneumonia may be higher and up to 50%.

Risk Factors for Recurrent Pneumonia in Children

Some children are at more risk of pneumonia than others and risk factors include

• Inborn lung and heart defects.
• Impaired immune system
• Problem in muscle co-ordination.
• Asthma.
• GERD.
• Certain genetic disorders including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

Treatment

Several antibiotics are available for treating pneumonia. It is the choice of doctor to decide most effective antibiotic for treating a particular patient of pneumonia and the choice depends on various factors including age of patient, severity of problem and other associated symptoms.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of these antibiotics include gastrointestinal distress, allergic reaction and skin rashes.

Prevention

• Children should be given vaccines to prevent infections caused by viruses or bacteria.
• Children should be given immunizations against haemophilus influenza and pertusis.
• Tuberculosis screening should be carried out annually in children of high risk areas for preventing active tuberculosis and pneumonia.

Summary: Pneumonia, a lung infection is common in children and should be treated as soon as the first symptoms appear. The prevention of pneumonia can also be encouraged by vaccinations for various viruses and bacteria.

Polio: Information History, Symptoms and Treatment

Understanding Polio

Today, most polio outbreaks occur in Haiti, Nigeria and India. This highly contagious viral disease may cause total loss of muscle function. A communicable disease, poliomyelitis (polio) can also lead to respiratory infection or death. The only appropriate standard of care is immunization.

Polio spreads through human contact after introduction to the body through the mouth. The majority of polio victims are introduced to the virus following consumption of contaminated water or food. The poliovirus invades the nervous system after the initial point of contact. Within hours, polio may cause the onset of paralysis. Immunization.

While polio can affect any age demographic, polio cases are normally reported among youth between the ages of 3-5. For this reason, medical agencies recommend preventative care during childhood.

The best way to avoid polio is to receive immunizations. This invaluable scientific tool controls the spread of disease. Immunizations equip the human body with an ability to fight attacks from specified harmful bodies. When a doctor immunizes a patient, a small dosage of the offending virus enters the body. In most patients, the body will then build up a defense to the disease. This should protect the body from full-blown eruptions of a particular disease.

History

Jakob Heine first recognized polio as a disease in 1840. Dr. Jonas Salk introduced IPV, the inactivated poliovirus vaccine, in 1955 as a mode of treatment. By 1961, the Sabin vaccine had been introduced to the medical community. The Sabin vaccine is an oral medication known as oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV).

Symptoms

Acute illness will last less than three weeks. After infection, victims suffer from fever, headache, localized pain, vomiting, and extreme fatigue. Unfortunately, most people who have been exposed to polio may not immediately exhibit symptoms.

The incubation period for polio ranges between 3-35 days. After infection, victims release virus particles in their solid waste for several weeks.

Treatment

In rare instances, usage of OPV will lead to paralytic polio. Due to that, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control strongly urge physicians to utilize IPV as the sole form of immunization against polio infection. This inactivated poliovirus vaccine has the ability to prevent polio.

Vaccination in Children

Medical professionals recommend that children receive polio vaccinations in four dosages. A child will receive a dosage at 2 months of age and 4 months of age. The third vaccination is given between 6-18 months. Finally, youth receive a booster shot between 4-6 years of age.

Vaccination in Adults

Adults who received vaccinations as children will not need additional vaccination unless there are factors present that indicate higher levels of risk exposure. For example, adults who travel to areas of the world ravaged by polio outbreaks are more susceptible to contraction of this infection. Laboratory workers who handle the poliovirus, as well as health care professionals who interact with polio victims, also maintain a higher risk level for polio contraction. Those three adult populations must receive polio booster shots as is recommended by health care experts.

When to Avoid Vaccination

People with minor illnesses will not receive the polio vaccine until they have recovered. Any illness, including the "common cold," has compromised the body's immune system.

Polio vaccinations are also not recommended for individuals who suffer from certain allergies. A physician will counsel patients who are not able to receive the inactivated poliovirus vaccine.

Summary: Polio is no longer a major health concern in the United States. However, polio is still a highly contagious disease that negatively affects the health of individuals. The only way to defend the human body against polio is through immunization. The preferred mode of treatment is inactivated poliovirus vaccine, which should be introduced to the human body during childhood.

Rheumatic Fever: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory illness that can affect the heart, skin, nervous system, and joints. This medical affliction can attack any age group, but is prevalent in female youth. Outbreaks of rheumatic fever are more common in children between 6 and 16 years of age. Although outbreaks of rheumatic fever have virtually disappeared in the United States, this ailment continues to compromise human health in numerous developing countries.

Rheumatic fever and Strep Throat

Rheumatic fever is a painful ailment that generally follows an untreated streptococcal throat infection. This bacterial infection is also called strep throat. Strep throat attacks tissues in the back of the throat and the tonsils. Inflammation and irritation of those tissues causes a severe sore throat.

Strep Throat

Common symptoms of strep throat are a severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, and swollen tonsils. Strep throat may also cause the development of white or yellow spots on the tongue or on the back of the inflamed throat. Sufferers of strep throat often experience abdominal pain, headaches, and other feelings of wide-ranging discomfort.

Strep throat is not associated with symptoms of the common cold such as coughing, sneezing, or a runny nose. Unlike the common cold, strep throat can be treated with antibiotics. However, antibiotic care is only effective within 2-3 days of the eruption of symptoms. With or without treatment, strep throat will normally disappear within 7 days.

Victims

Rheumatic fever can occur at any age, but most frequently occurs in children between the ages of 6 and 16 years. The disease is more common in females.

It is important to recognize that not all episodes of strep throat lead to rheumatic fever. Nonetheless, development of rheumatic fever is a serious medical obstacle. Onset of this disease can affect numerous portions of the human body.

Symptoms

Symptoms of rheumatic fever generally appear within five weeks after untreated strep throat.

In addition to general indicators of strep throat, victims of rheumatic fever may experience shortness of breath, chest pain, and painful, swollen joints. Rheumatic fever can also cause skin rashes on the chest, stomach, and back.

Diagnosis

To diagnose rheumatic fever, a doctor must detect the existence of a strep throat infection. Doctors detect strep throat by running a cotton swab over the back of the throat. The swab collects a sample of bacteria that will be cultured. The bacterial culture will be studied in a laboratory to confirm whether streptococcal bacteria are present.

A doctor will also listen to the heart and scrutinize the body for nodules located on the joints. Nodules will usually erupt on the knee and ankle joints. Some medical professionals will also diagnose rheumatic fever after conducting blood tests, chest x-rays or utilizing an electrocardiogram.

Treatment

There is no cure for rheumatic fever, but outbreaks can be prevented by promptly treating strep throat. Victims of rheumatic fever normally fully recover within six weeks.

Complications

Although patients may feel well, long-term damage may exist. In some instances, rheumatic fever causes permanent heart damage. The doctor may recommend surgery to repair or replace damaged heart valves. Untreated valves disrupt the flow of blood. Damaged valves cause the blood to flow backwards. Damaged valves may also reduce the amount of blood flow necessary for normal function.

Summary: Rheumatic fever is a serious ailment caused by untreated strep throat that will affect the heart, skin, and nervous system. This illness predominately affects youth, but is capable of harming any age group. Although incurable, rheumatic fever can be treated with antibiotics. After the course of acute illness dissipates, victims of rheumatic fever may suffer from long-term side affects such as heart damage.

Smallpox Vaccine in Children

The disease Smallpox is categorized as highly dangerous and harmful infectious virus that in occasions can provoke the death. The smallpox is also known as Variola virus. The prevention of contagious is the most effective treatment because it has no specific treatment except the vaccine. The name Variola comes from the Latin word for "spotted" referring to the raised bumps in the face and the body seen in the infected persons.

Two clinical forms of smallpox

Variola major is the most dangerous of the smallpox forms.

There four subtypes of this severe smallpox

• Ordinary smallpox: it is the most common form (it occurs approximately in the ninety percent of cases) and provokes an extensive rash accompanying it with high periods of fever.
• Moderated smallpox: it is mild and usually occurs in vaccinated persons
• Flat smallpox and hemorrhagic smallpox: if they occur separated there are no fatal as when they are going together; when occurs the flat-hemorrhagic modality the consequences are usually fatal (a thirty percent of the infected patients die with this type of smallpox).

Variola minor is the less common representation of this infectious disease. Usually represents only the one percent of the smallpox cases in the world, and the consequences are much less severe than its counterpart the Variola major.

Where there is smallpox now?

Although the smallpox was eradicated from world human populations several years ago, the US government is preoccupied because this virus can be used by the bioterrorism against civilization and by this reason; there have been taken new precautions to prevent that occurs this scenario inside the USA or in other part of the world.

Symptoms of a smallpox infection

This disease can be divided in several infection periods:

• The non-contagious incubation period: its duration is about seven to seventeen days. There are no symptoms during the incubation period.
• Prodome or initial symptoms: there are symptoms like high fever, rash, malaise and vomiting. This period endures about two to five days.
• Early rash period: This period is extremely contagious and it could be lasts about four days and is characterized by the budding of bumper spots starting first on the head and then spreading on the extremities (arms and legs).
• The contagious scab period: After the formation of pustules there is a crusting and scabbing period, that can be as long as fifteen days.
• Finally, the scabs are resolved, the scabs has fallen. This period is non-contagious.

The transmission and the children vaccination

The unique natural host of smallpox are the humans and it passes form one to the other person generally through an extended face-to-face contact or through bodily fluids or contaminated objects. The aerial transmission is not common with smallpox though there are cases that confirmed this. The only treatment is the prevention, but a vaccine would no be recommended to all persons by the only purpose of a general prevention campaign against a possible risk of infection.

Why is not recommended the smallpox vaccination in the childhood population?

There some points that support this recommendation:

• There a great risk of dangerous side effects when the child is vaccinated including the possibility of allergic induced fatalities.
• The vaccine is too expensive.
• The actual risk of a bioterrorist act using the smallpox virus is too low.
• Actually, the FDA has not approved any smallpox vaccine for the childhood population.
• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Dryvax vaccine used in adults had shown to be effective only in adults and there is no clinical trials that had test it with children, therefore, the efficacy of Dryvax in children never has been proved.
• Children physiology's response is distinct from the adult response.

Summary: Smallpox is an eradicated virus that could be dangerous again with the terrorism and bioterrorism. Although there is several vaccines is not recommended to vaccine infants and children because its unknown results in them.

Tetanus: Types, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Introduction

Tetanus is a serious and fatal disease caused by bacterial toxin produced by the bacterium tetani and affects the nervous system. A cut or wound on the skin are infected by the bacteria, which is generally found in agricultural soil, intestines and feces of various animals including rats, dogs, cats, chickens, guinea pigs. Infection may cause severe muscle spasms including locking of jaw.

Clostridium Tetani

C. tetani is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore forming bacteria. These spores are found in manure, agricultural soils, feces of animals and can survive for month to years. The spores are resistant to heat and antiseptic and can survive a few minutes at more than 100 degree centigrade. The toxin produced by C. tetani is tetanolysin and tetanospasmin. Tetanospasmin acts as neutroxin and causes the disease tetanus.

Neonatal Tetanus

This forms of tetanus occurs in newborn infants, born without protective passive immune. Neonatal tetanus occurs through infection of the unhealed umbilical stump, especially when the stump is cut with an unsterlite knife or blade. This is common in some of the developing countries and developed countries report a few tetanus cases.

Incubation Period

The incubation for neonates varies from 4 to 14 days; however the incubation for adults may vary from 3 days to 15 weeks. The incubation period depends on the distance of wound from central nervous system and severity of wounds. A deep wound may allow bacteria to attain its full strength and may cause severe infection and result may be more fatal.

Symptoms

• The first early symptoms of tetanus may be the jaw spasm also called lockjaw. This causes difficulty in moving jaw muscles and eating and swallowing.
• The other symptoms follow lockjaw includes stiffness in neck and back and rigidity in muscles of abdomen.
• he muscular spasms may expand to throughout of the body and sometimes may even cause muscle tears.
• Body temperature rises 2 to 4 degree centigrade and sweating occurs.
• Rise in blood pressure and heart rate are additional symptoms of tetanus.

Wound Care and Treatment

The wound must be cleaned and infected tissues should be taken out to reduce the bacteria. If wounds are deep and the patient had earlier taken zero to two doses of tetanus toxoid, should be given TIG as well as Td toxoid.

Recovery and Mortality:

• Initial recovery in muscle may begin within 3 to 4 weeks but complete recovery may take months and in some cases up to one year or more than one.
• Mortality rate may be high and highest mortality rate is in some of the developing countries.

Complication in tetanus

• The vocal cord spasm and muscle spasm may lead to respiration problem.
• Contractions and convulsions in muscle may lead to fracture of the spine or long bones.
• Nervous system abnormality may led to hypertension and abnormal heart rhythm.
• Prolonged hospitalization can lead to Nosocomial infections. Secondary infection may also cause sepsis from catheters and decubitus ulcers.
• A common late complication of tetanus is aspiration pneumonia and found in majority of autopsied cases.

Prevention

All children should be vaccinated. Tetanus vaccines are available worldwide and booster vaccines should be recommended at every 10-year interval. If a person suffers a wound and he or she is unable to remember, when he or she has earlier vaccinated, the person should be vaccinated with a tetanus booster DTaP.

Summary: Tetanus is a serious and fatal disease with high mortality rate. To prevent, vaccinations should be given to the children as per the plan and should not be stopped in middle. At the interval of 10 years tetanus boosters should be taken to avoid the fatal disease.