Many Infectious Diseases Of Humans

Introduction

Human beings are wrought with a sense of frailty. We can acquire a number of different  infectious diseases of humans which can lead to serious sickness or even death. 

History

Diphtheria is an infectious diseases of humans that is caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. These infectious diseases of humans is spread either via contact with an infected individual's respiratory droplets (coughing or sneezing) or if a healthy individual comes into with contaminated objects or foods. This disease is now quite rare due to widespread immunization but there are still cases of it. Factors that make an area more at risk include crowded environments, poor hygiene, and lack of immunization. Symptoms of these infectious diseases of humans are as follows, Bluish coloration of the skin, Bloody, watery drainage from the nose, Breathing problems, Difficulty breathing, Rapid breathing, Stridor, Chills, Croup-like (barking) cough, Drooling, Fever, Hoarseness, Painful swallowing, Skin lesions (usually seen in tropical areas) and Sore throat (may range from mild to severe). However, it is important to note that sometimes an individual will be infected but will show no signs of the disease. Treatment methods will start immediately once diagnosis has been confirmed; this begins with a Diphtheria antitoxin given as a shot into a muscle or through an IV (intravenous line), and later followed up with antibiotics, such as penicillin and erythromycin. Additional treatment methods are as follows, Fluids by IV, Oxygen, Bed rest, Heart monitoring, Insertion of a breathing tube and Correction of airway blockages. Recovery from these infectious diseases of humans is a slow long process.

Features

The next infectious diseases of humans is Meningitis, an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. There are quite a few different types of Meningitis, two being bacterial or viral. If it is bacterial, it is extremely serious and requires immediate hospitable attention. Viral Meningitis is a milder form and can be due to enteroviruses, viruses that also can cause intestinal illness. There are other viral strains, which can cause viral meningitis such as the herpes viruses. Symptoms of these infectious diseases of humans are Fever and chills, mental status changes, Nausea and vomiting, Sensitivity to light (photophobia), severe headache, Stiff neck (meningismus), Agitation, Bulging fontanels, decreased consciousness, poor feeding or irritability in children, Rapid breathing and an unusual posture with their head and neck. Bacterial Meningitis is treated via a particular type of antibiotics. If the disease has progressed to include brain swelling, shock, and seizures, then other medications and intravenous fluids will be needed for the patient.

The last infectious diseases of humans we will discuss is the Rocky Mountain spotted fever, caused by the bacteria rickettsia which is carried by ticks. The human is bitten by the tick and will subsequently become infected. The symptoms of this disease are as follows, Chills, Confusion, Fever, Headache, Muscle pain, Rash, Diarrhea, Light sensitivity, Hallucinations, Loss of appetite, Nausea, Thirst and Vomiting. The first stage in treating these infectious diseases of humans is to remove the tick from the skin and treat the patient with antibiotics normally in the form of Doxycycline or tetracycline.

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