Pathogens and diseases

Pathogen- a germ/ microbe responsible for causig infection

in humans

Cholera

Causative agent: Bacteria ( Vibrio cholerae )

Transmission: ( Water and food borne disease )

1. Untreated sewage reaching a water source ( e.g.
water ) and the water consumed without proper
treatment/ chlorination.
2. Infected shellfishes or algae from water
contaminated with untreated sewage.
3. Houseflies that sit on sewage as well as food for
humans and transmit bacteria to food.

Sign and Symptoms:

1. Diarrhoea and vomiting.

2. Fever, muscle cramps, weakness and even death if
not rehydrated.
Treatment :
1. ORS – to replace the water and electrolytes lost
during Diarrhoea.
2. Antibiotic e.g. tetracycline to kill bacteria.

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Prevention of spread :
1. Prevent access of houseflies (since houseflies sit
on sewage as well as human food) by-
- Killing them with insecticides.
- Keeping food covered/inside fridge,
meat safe etc.
2. Hygienic disposal of faeces since patients pass
bacteria in faeces.
3. Supply of clean and safe drinking water since
bacteria is transmitted in water.
4. Treatment of infected cases with
antibiotics to kill bacteria in patients.
4. Hygienic preparation of food.
5. Vaccination of all the people in an
infected area.
6. Not use sewage as fertilizer.
7. Isolate all infected cases.

Stages of the disease:

1. Infection : microorganisms enter the body.

2. Incubation period: micro-organisms reproduce,

destroy tissues and produce toxins.

3. Sign and symptoms: Fever( sign),

Headache( symptom ).

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 4. Recovery: WBC fight micro-organisms and destroy
them; neutralize their poison (toxin).

AIDS

Causative agent : HIV ( human immunodeficiency virus )

Transmission : The virus is usually transmitted by mixing of

body fluids as follows:

1. Sexual intercourse with an infected person.

2. Sharing hypodermic syringe with an infected
person for example when drug addicts share their
needles or needles used for tattooing.
3. Blood transfusion from an infected person.
4. During pregnancy, from infected mother to the
fetus.
5. Through cuts and mucous membranes.

Effect on the body :

1. The virus attacks WBC and so destroys the body’s
immune system.
2. Body is unable to overcome infections.
3. AIDS develops.
4. Symptoms of disease are variable since patient is
susceptible to any other disease ( opportunistic
disease ).
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 5. Cancer, pneumonia, tuberculosis etc.
6. Disease can become deadly once caught and
usually lead to death.

Treatment : Symptomatic.

Prevention of spread :
1. Isolation of the infected person.
2. Use of disposable syringes and hypodermic needles
in hospitals.
3. Use of screened blood in hospitals.
4. Use of sterilized surgical instruments and gloves
during surgical operation.
5. Care of cuts and wounds.
6. Use of condoms by males to reduce the risk.
7. Avoid multiple sex partners and follow a normal,
healthy sexual life.
8. Avoid pregnancy of infected females.
9. Regular blood screening of people who are at risk.
10. Burn all the personal belongings of the
infected person after death.
11. Promote health education.

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 Gonorrhoea
(Bacterial disease)

It is a sexually transmitted disease.

Causative Agent: Neisseria gonorrhoea

Mode of transmission:
 It is transmitted by sexual contact only. Less than 50%
of female suffering from the disease does not show any
symptom.
 They harbor the bacteria in the vagina as the vaginal
secretion contains it.
 It is transmitted to a healthy male during sexual
intercourse. The disease affects the urinary and genital
system.

Treatment: Isolate the patient and hospitalize if necessary.

Give antibiotics like:
Penicillin
Tetracycline / Ampicillin

Prevention of spread:

1. Avoid infected person like a sex worker.

2. Use condom during intercourse.
3. Avoid multiple sexual partners.
4. Maintain healthy sexual life.
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 5. Identify cases and provide treatment.
6. Health education.
7. Improvement of socio-economic condition.
8. Maintenance of personal hygiene.

Prepared by Dr.Saiful

Poliomyletis
(Viral Disease)

Causative Agent: Polio Virus.

General information: This disease is becoming less common

due to wide spread use of prophylactic immunization by oral
vaccines. The polio viruses attack the spinal cord, brain stem
and cortex( CNS).

Treatment: symptomatic

Prevention:
1. By Oral vaccination between the age of 3 to 6
months and after 1 year.

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Prepared by Dr.Saiful
Mob- 01712947514

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