Life Science Academy



Activity 5.1.2: Disease CardsTuberculosis (TB)Type of Infectious AgentBacteriaName of Infectious AgentMycobacterium tuberculosisSymptoms of DiseaseThe symptoms of TB disease depend on where in the body the bacteria are growing. Usually, TB bacteria grow in the lungs where they cause a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest, and coughing up blood or the phlegm from deep inside the lungs. Other symptoms include weakness, fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever, and sweating at night.Diagnosis of DiseaseSkin test, blood test, chest X-ray, and sputum culture.Transmission of DiseaseTB is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.Treatment of DiseaseAntibiotic treatment with isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), or rifapentine (RPT).Strep ThroatType of Infectious AgentBacteriaName of Infectious AgentStreptococcus pyogenesSymptoms of DiseaseGeneral symptoms include throat pain, difficulty swallowing, red and swollen tonsils that often have white patches or streaks of pus on them, tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate, swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck, fever, headache, rash, and fatigue.Diagnosis of DiseaseThroat culture, rapid antigen test, and/or rapid DNA test.Transmission of DiseaseStreptococcal bacteria are highly contagious. They can spread through airborne droplets when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes, or through shared food or drinks. You can also pick up the bacteria from a doorknob or other surface and transfer them to your nose or mouth.Treatment of DiseaseOral antibiotic treatment with penicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin, or azithromycin.SyphilisType of Infectious AgentBacteriaName of Infectious AgentTreponema pallidumSymptoms of DiseasePrimary syphilis – small sore on genitalsSecondary syphilis – Rash that begins on trunk and covers entire body and may be accompanied by wart-like sores in the mouth or genital area. Muscle aches, fever, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes are also common.Latent syphilis – No symptomsTertiary or late syphilis – Brain, nerve, eye, heart, blood vessel, liver, bone, and joint damage.Diagnosis of DiseaseBlood test for presence of antibodies, fluid culture from sores, or spinal tap.Transmission of DiseaseSpread through contact with an infected person's sore during sexual activity. The bacteria enter your body through minor cuts or abrasions in your skin or mucous membranes. Syphilis is contagious during its primary and secondary stages, and sometimes in the early latent period. It is also spread through direct unprotected close contact with an active lesion or through an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth.Treatment of DiseaseAntibiotic treatment with penicillin.GiardiasisType of Infectious AgentProtozoaName of Infectious AgentGiardia lamblia parasiteSymptoms of DiseaseA gastrointestinal disease with water, sometimes foul-smelling diarrhea that may alternate with soft, greasy stools, fatigue, abdominal cramps and bloating, belching gas with a bad taste, nausea, and weight loss.Diagnosis of DiseaseThe infection is diagnosed with a stool sample.Transmission of DiseaseGiardia parasites live in the intestines of people and animals. Before the microscopic parasites are passed in stool, they become encased within hard shells called cysts, which allows them to survive outside the intestines for months. Once inside a host, the cysts dissolve and the parasites are released. Infection occurs when you accidentally ingest the parasites. This can occur by swallowing contaminated water, by eating contaminated food, or through person-to-person contact. Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of medications specific to giardia infection (including metronidazole, tinidazole, nitazoxanide, and paromomycin).MalariaType of Infectious AgentProtozoaName of Infectious AgentPlasmodium parasiteSymptoms of DiseaseMalaria causes damage to red blood cells which can cause serious and sometimes fatal complications. The disease is characterized by recurrent attacks with moderate to severe shaking chills, high fever, profuse sweating as the body temperature falls, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.Diagnosis of DiseaseBlood test for the parasite.Transmission of DiseaseMicroscopic parasites transmit the disease from person to person. A mosquito becomes infected by feeding on a person who has malaria and then transmits the malaria parasites to the next person the mosquito bites. Malaria can also be transmitted from mother to unborn child, through infected blood transfusions, and by sharing infected needles.Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of antimalarial drugs.CryptosporidiosisType of Infectious AgentProtozoaName of Infectious AgentCryptosporidium parvum parasiteSymptoms of DiseaseA gastrointestinal disease whose symptoms include watery diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting.Diagnosis of DiseaseThe infection can be diagnosed with an acid-staining test which identifies cryptosporidium under the microscope or a stool culture. Transmission of DiseaseThe infection begins when you ingest the parasite which then travels to your intestinal tract and settles into the walls of your intestines. You can become infected with cryptosporidium by touching anything that has come in contact with contaminated feces. Methods of infection include swallowing or putting something contaminated in your mouth, drinking contaminated water, swimming in contaminated water and accidentally swallowing some of it, touching your hand to your mouth if you had comes into contact with a contaminated surface, or having close contact with other infected people or animals.Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of anti-parasitic drug, anti-motility agents to slow down the movements of the intestines, and fluid replacement therapy.Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)Type of Infectious AgentPrionName of Infectious AgentCJD PrionSymptoms of DiseaseCJD is marked by rapid mental deterioration, usually within a few months. Initial signs and symptoms typically include personality changes, anxiety, depression, memory loss, impaired thinking, blurred vision, insomnia, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, and sudden jerky movements. As the disease progresses, mental symptoms worsen and people eventually lapse into a coma.Diagnosis of DiseaseDoctors commonly use an EEG, MRI, spinal fluid tests, and/or tonsil biopsies to diagnose the disease.Transmission of DiseaseCJD disease is caused by an abnormal version of a kind of protein called a prion. Normally the proteins are harmless, but when they’re misshapen they become infectious and can cause major problems on normal biological processes. Most people with CJD develop the disease for no apparent reason, but others who develop the disease have a family history of the disease or test positive for a genetic mutation associated with CJF. A small number of people have developed CJD after being exposed to infected human tissue during a medical procedure. This happens because standard sterilization methods do not destroy abnormal prions.Treatment of DiseaseNo effective treatment exists for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or any of its variants.AscariasisType of Infectious AgentHelminthName of Infectious AgentAscariasis wormSymptoms of DiseaseAfter the ascariasis eggs are ingested, they hatch in the intestines and sometimes migrate through the bloodstream or lymphatic system into the lungs. An intestinal infection can cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or blood stools, and/or fatigue. A lung infection can cause persistent cough, shortness of breath, and/or wheezing.Diagnosis of DiseaseInfection is identified by stool tests, blood tests, and/or imaging tests.Transmission of DiseaseA person must come into contact with soil mixed with human feces that contains ascariasis eggs.Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of anti-parasite medications.TrichinosisType of Infectious AgentHelminthName of Infectious AgentTrichinella roundwormSymptoms of DiseaseWhen a person swallows trichinella larvae encased in a cyst, the digestive juices dissolve the cyst, releasing the parasite into the body. The larvae then penetrate the intestine, where they mature into adult worms and mate. At this stage, symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and malaise. Later the adult female worms produce larvae that penetrate the intestinal wall, enter the bloodstream, and burrow into muscle or other tissue. This causes high fever, muscle pain and tenderness, swelling of the eyelids or face, weakness, headache, and sensitivity to light.Diagnosis of DiseaseInitial diagnosis relies on physical examination of the classic signs and symptoms, blood samples, and a muscle biopsy.Transmission of DiseasePeople get trichinosis when they eat undercooked meat — such as pork, bear, walrus, or horse — that is infected with the immature form (larvae) of the trichinella roundworm.Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of anti-parasite (anti-helminthic) medication.TapewormType of Infectious AgentHelminthName of Infectious AgentTapewormSymptoms of DiseaseIntestinal infections cause nausea, weakness, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and inadequate absorption of nutrients from food. Invasive infections result in fever, cystic masses or lumps, allergic reactions to the larvae, bacterial infections, and neurological symptoms including seizures.Diagnosis of DiseaseStool sample analysis, blood test, and/or imaging exam.Transmission of DiseaseConsumption of food or water contaminated with feces from a person or animal with tapeworm or ingestion of larvae cysts in meat or muscle tissue of an animal with a tapeworm infection.Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of oral medications that are toxic to the adult tapeworm (including praziquantel, albendazole, and nitazoxanide).Common ColdType of Infectious AgentVirusName of Infectious AgentRhinovirusSymptoms of DiseaseSymptoms include: runny or stuffy nose, itchy or sore throat, cough, congestion, slight body aches or a mild headache, sneezing, watery eyes, a low-grade fever, and mild fatigue.Diagnosis of DiseasePhysical examination.Transmission of DiseaseThe virus enters your body through your mouth or nose. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, or talks. But it also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by using shared objects, such as utensils, towels, toys, or telephones. If you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after such contact or exposure, you're likely to "catch" a cold.Treatment of DiseaseThere is no cure for the common cold. Over-the-counter cold treatments do not treat the cold but can sometimes relieve symptoms. These include pain relievers, decongestants, and cough syrups.FluType of Infectious AgentVirusName of Infectious AgentInfluenzaSymptoms of DiseaseSymptoms include fever, aching muscles (especially in the back, arms, and legs), chills and sweats, headache, dry cough, fatigue and weakness, and nasal congestion.Diagnosis of DiseasePhysical examination.Transmission of DiseaseFlu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes, or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard — and then transfer them to your eyes, nose, or mouth.Treatment of DiseaseBed rest and hydration is usually the only treatment needed. Antiviral medications can be prescribed if taken soon after symptoms begin. These drugs may shorten the illness by a day or so and help prevent serious complications.RotavirusType of Infectious AgentVirusName of Infectious AgentRotavirusSymptoms of DiseaseSymptoms begin with a fever, followed by three to eight days of watery diarrhea and vomiting. The infection can cause abdominal pain as well. In adults who are otherwise healthy, a rotavirus infection may cause only mild signs and symptoms — or none at all.Diagnosis of DiseaseDiagnosed via a physical exam. Stool sample may be analyzed to confirm the diagnosis.Transmission of DiseaseRotavirus is present in an infected person's stool several days before symptoms appear and for up to 10 days after symptoms subside. The virus spreads easily through hand-to-mouth contact throughout this time — even if the infected person doesn't have symptoms. Not washing your hands after using the toilet or changing a child’s diaper can cause the virus to spread to anything you touch, including food, toys, and utensils. If another person touches your unwashed hands or a contaminated object and then touches his or her mouth, an infection may follow. Sometimes rotavirus spreads through contaminated water or infected respiratory droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. Treatment of DiseaseThere is no treatment for a rotavirus infection. The infection usually resolves within three to eight days. Primary treatment involves the prevention of dehydration.HistoplasmosisType of Infectious AgentFungusName of Infectious AgentHistoplasma capsulatumSymptoms of DiseaseSeveral types of histoplasmosis exist. The mildest form produces no signs or symptoms, but severe infections can be life-threatening. Symptoms of the infection include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dry cough, and chest discomfort. Sometimes the infection causes joint pain and a rash.Diagnosis of DiseaseInspection of lung secretions, blood or urine, biopsied lung tissue, and/or bone marrow.Transmission of DiseaseHistoplasmosis is caused by the reproductive cells (spores) of the fungus. The histoplasmosis fungus thrives in damp soil that's rich in organic material, especially the droppings from birds and bats The spores are extremely light and float into the air when dirt or other contaminated material is disturbed, so infection is most commonly transmitted during cleanup or demolition projects and to farmers and landscapers.Treatment of DiseaseTreatment usually isn't necessary if you have a mild case of histoplasmosis. But if your symptoms are severe or if you have the chronic or disseminated forms of the disease, you'll likely need treatment with one or more antifungal drugs.Ringworm (Tinea corporis)Type of Infectious AgentFungusName of Infectious AgentDermatophytesSymptoms of DiseaseA circular rash on the skin that’s red and inflamed around the edge and healthy looking in the middle; slightly raised expanding rings of red, scaly skin on the trunk or face; and/or a round, flat patch of itchy skin.Diagnosis of DiseaseSkin scrapings or samples from the infected area are taken and looked at under a microscope.Transmission of DiseaseRingworm is contagious and can be spread in the following ways: direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person; touching an animal with ringworm; contact with objects or surfaces that an infected person or animal has recently touched or rubbed against; or contact with infected soil.Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of a prescription-strength topical antifungal or oral medication. Athlete’s Foot (Tinea pedis)Type of Infectious AgentFungusName of Infectious AgentDermatophytesSymptoms of DiseaseSymptoms include itching, stinging, and burning between the toes; itching, stinging, and burning on the soles of the feet; itchy blisters; cracking and peeling skin, especially between the toes and on the soles of the feet; excessive dryness of the skin on the bottoms or sides of the feet; and/or toenails that are thick, crumbly, ragged, discolored, or pulling away from the nail bed.Diagnosis of DiseaseSkin scrapings or samples from the infected area are taken and viewed under a microscope.Transmission of DiseaseAthlete's foot thrives in thick, tight shoes that squeeze the toes together and create warm, moist areas between them. Damp socks and shoes and warm, humid conditions also favor the organisms' growth. The fungus is transmitted by sharing clothes or shoes with someone who has the fungal infection or walking barefoot in public areas where the infection can spread.Treatment of DiseaseAdministration of antifungal medication.All information contained on disease cards was obtained from (? 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download