HEALTH, IMMUNITY AND DISEASES.
HEALTH.
Health is a state of physical, mental and emotional well
being, i.e. Being free from diseases.
This is the result of a steady state in the internal
environment of the body. Disturbance and interference of this steady state may
cause ill health characterized by body disorders.
Mental Health includes
proper reasoning and rational thinking, i.e. think and act sensibly.
Emotional Health includes
proper social interaction and respect for each other
.Physical Health includes proper
physiological and anatomic functioning of the body.
Social Health is
the ability to interact with other human beings and the surrounding
environments happily and confidently.
Is to live according to the accepted norms and values of
the society, i.e. playing together, making friends, helping each other.
Socially unaccepted behaviours are like, prostitution,
stealing and homosexuality.
HOW TO REMAIN HEALTH
for people to remain healthy, they should
HOW TO REMAIN HEALTH
for people to remain healthy, they should
- Avoid smoking
- decrease their intake of junk food(food that is not good for health).Example Chips, soda and any preservative food frequently
- Exercise regularly
- Get sufficient sleep in a well - ventilated room
- Relax and avoid stress
- Allow time to leisure
- Eat well-balanced diet
- Drink plenty of clean and safe water
This is the ability of the body to resist against diseases
and infections.
The immune system enable the body to recognize foreign materials(known as antigens)S
ANTIGENS are any substance that causes the body to make antibodies Example of antigens include protein on the surface of viruses and bacteria as well as toxins produced by bacteria
ANTIBODIES Are chemical which protect the body by helping to destroy pathogen and neutralising their toxins
THE EFFECTS OF ANTIBODIES ON ANTIGENS
Antibodies vary in their effects on antigens as follows
1.Some antibodies make the bacteria stick onto their surface-Thus rendering them unable to move and therefore easily attached by phagocytes
2.Some antibodies make antigens agglutinate(clump together)-Thus rendering unable to penetrate the host cells and to reproduce properly
3.Some antibodies destroy the surfaces of viruses and bacteria-The fragments are engulfed by the phagocytes or macrophage
4.Some antibodies combines with toxins produced bt antigens- that making them harmlesss
The most known defender is the white blood cells.
The immune system enable the body to recognize foreign materials(known as antigens)S
ANTIGENS are any substance that causes the body to make antibodies Example of antigens include protein on the surface of viruses and bacteria as well as toxins produced by bacteria
ANTIBODIES Are chemical which protect the body by helping to destroy pathogen and neutralising their toxins
THE EFFECTS OF ANTIBODIES ON ANTIGENS
Antibodies vary in their effects on antigens as follows
1.Some antibodies make the bacteria stick onto their surface-Thus rendering them unable to move and therefore easily attached by phagocytes
2.Some antibodies make antigens agglutinate(clump together)-Thus rendering unable to penetrate the host cells and to reproduce properly
3.Some antibodies destroy the surfaces of viruses and bacteria-The fragments are engulfed by the phagocytes or macrophage
4.Some antibodies combines with toxins produced bt antigens- that making them harmlesss
The most known defender is the white blood cells.
-When pathogens enter the body, the phagocytes
cells will engulf and digest them.
-Lymphocytes cells defend the body against invading
pathogens. Pathogens produce antigens and the
lymphocytes will produce specific antibodies to act against
the antigen, hence making pathogens harmless and easier to destroy.
TYPES OF IMMUNITY.
Basically there two main types of immunity namely:
a Natural immunity,
b.Artificial immunity.
1. Natural immunity
This is also referred as innate, that which an individual
is born with. Natural immunity is divided into two:
-Natural active immunity.
The body makes its own antibodies especially after an attack from disease
causing microorganism. Adults have this kind of immunity.
-Natural passive immunity. The body develops an immune system during development of
foetus (unborn Baby) i.e. the antibodies from the mother pass to the foetus.
After the baby is born the antibodies from the mother pass to the baby through
sucking of the first milk (colostrums). This lasts only for a few months after
birth.
2. Artificial immunity
This is the type of immunity, an individual acquires in the
course of life time.
This type of immunity is also referred to as acquired
immunity.
- Acquired immunity is of two types:
- Acquired immunity is of two types:
a.Artificial active immunity.
This is the type of immunity t is acquired through immunization or vaccination .
It established by infecting a small quantity of antigens into the body. This is known as vaccination. The antigens induce the production of antibodies.Example. tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, yellow fever, chicken pox and polio
This is the type of immunity t is acquired through immunization or vaccination .
It established by infecting a small quantity of antigens into the body. This is known as vaccination. The antigens induce the production of antibodies.Example. tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, yellow fever, chicken pox and polio
b.Artificial passive immunity.
This type of immunity is acquired when antibodies produced by one individual are injected into a second individual
- individual receives antibodies produced by other individual organism. Serum which contains antibodies is introduced into the body of an individual organism.
-It is short-term because the antibodies used are not the body's own, so no memory cells are created.Examples rabies and tetanus, and AIDS
This type of immunity is acquired when antibodies produced by one individual are injected into a second individual
- individual receives antibodies produced by other individual organism. Serum which contains antibodies is introduced into the body of an individual organism.
-It is short-term because the antibodies used are not the body's own, so no memory cells are created.Examples rabies and tetanus, and AIDS
Factors that can lead to lowering of body immunity.
i. Destruction of immune system by pathogens for instances HIV
i. Destruction of immune system by pathogens for instances HIV
ii. Lack of a proper balanced diet.
iii Inhibitory effect of (immuno suppressive)
drugs and chemicals to the white blood cells
. iv Inability of the body to produce
antibodies and the white blood cells.
v. Lack
of vaccination/immunization..
vi Incomplete treatment. If the sick person
does not take a complete dose of treatment for infection or disease, this
may affect immunity.This is because the disease causing microorganism are not
completely destroyed and could therefore reactivated easily, causes infection
or disease reoccur.
vii.Attack by pathogen.This are microorganism
which release harmful substances or attack and destroy body cell.Some pathogens
destroy white blood cells, which form an important part of immune system.
vi.Damage to skin.The skin acts as a barrier,
preventing microorganism from entering the body.When the skin is damaged e.g
due to severe burns this barrier is broken to disease-causing microorganism
enter the body easily.
Immunization
This is the process of introducing a vaccine into the body
of an animal or organism in order to increase the ability to produce
antibodies.
Due to advancement of science and technology, we have
supply of ready-made antibodies. The introduction of a vaccine into the body of
an organism or animal helps to increase the ability to produce antibodies
.Ways of administering immunization:
1) Injecting the vaccine into the body tissues
.2) Taking the vaccine through the mouth
3) Rubbing the vaccine on the body tissues.
VACCINE.
A vaccine is
a liquid preparation of treated disease causing organisms or their products
used to provide immunity. Types of vaccines include:-
1. Taxoids. These
are the vaccines, which are extracted from toxins produced by pathogens.
2. Weakened (attenuated) pathogens. These are vaccines which contain specially treated disease
causing microorganism, which have been weakened and therefore less virulent.
Vaccination
This is the process of injecting a vaccine to a health
body, which induces the lymphocytes to produce antibodies.
Most important vaccines for children
1) D.P.T
D- stands for diphtheria
P-stands for whooping cough
T-stand for tetanus
For full protection, the child needs three injections.
These injections are given at the age of 3months, 4 months and 5 months. The
interval is variable depending on different countries
.2) Polio (infantile paralysis).
The child needs drops in the mouth once each
month for three months. These are usually administered together with the D.P.T
injections. It is advisable not to breastfeed the baby for 2 hours before or
after giving the drops.
3). B.C.G. for tuberculosis.
This vaccine was discovered by two French microbiologist,
Calmette and Guerin. They discovered a vaccine for tuberculosis known as Bacille
Calmette Guerin (B.C.G). A single injections is given into the
skin of the right shoulder. Children can be vaccinated at birth or anytime
afterwards. Early vaccination is of paramount importance if any
member of the household has or has had tuberculosis. The vaccine makes a sore
and leaves a scar.
4). Measles.
One injection given to a child between 9 to 15 months of
age depending on the country.
5). Tetanus
This is administered together with those of diphtheria and
whooping cough as D.P.T. for adults and children over twelve years old, the
most important vaccine is for tetanus (Lockjaw). One injection every month for
3months, another after a year, and then one every 10 years.
NB. Vaccines get
spoilt very easily. Vaccines for polio and measles must be kept cold between
4 0C and 8 0C but never frozen. Other examples
of vaccinations rendered to people are for:-
1) cholera
2) Typhoid
3) Cow pox.
4) Small pox
5) Yellow fever.
Importance of good health.
1) Good health helps someone to grow and
develop.
2) A health student is able to attend school without
failing hence performance improves
3) A healthy person is able to work ad earn a living.
4) A healthy nation develops fast because most people are
not sick and then work hard, and the country does not use a lot of money on
medication.
5) Good heath reduces mortality (death) rate.
Definition of terms,
1 Illness is a general term used to means a period of
not being in a good health.
Disease is a specific illness with a name that affects a particular
part of the body or the whole body.
or is a condition, other than injury that interferes with the normal functioning of the body
or is a condition, other than injury that interferes with the normal functioning of the body
3 Agents of diseases,(Pathogens) these are
disease-causing microorganisms
Vectors are
organisms that spread the disease without being affected by the disease
themselves
An infection or infectious is
an illness(diseases) that is caused by microorganisms and that affects one part of the
body and can be spread from one person to another. When the body is affected by
a certain disease the normal functioning of some parts of the body (cells,
tissues, or organism) is disturbed.
Disease can cause the the following negative effects
Body weakness and inability to work or study
Increased cost of the health care
tress to the ailing person and the family
Reduced productivity due to absenteeism from the school or
workplace
-Permanent damage to the body
Death
Diseases can broadly be divided into two
categories.
1) communicable (infectious)
2) non-communicable (non-communicable)
1) Infectious (communicable) diseases.
Infectious diseases are also known as communicable
diseases. These are diseases which are transmitted from one person to the
other.
Occur when pathogen invade the body.
PATHOGENS are
microorganism that cause diseases(disease-causing microorganism)
These diseases are usually caused by micro-organisms e.g.
viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoan.
Examples:- Cholera, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Ringworms, AIDS
and Malaria.
The pathogen can spread through.
i. Droplet infection. Infected disease are
transferred from nose or mouth onto the surface or hand through droplets.
produced when sneezing spitting, coughing or speaking. Example corona virus,
tuberculosis
ii.Through contact.infections usually spread by
contact with infected skin, clothing, comb.Example.Scabies,Measles, and fungus
iii.Through,sexual intercourse.
Example. Gonorrhoea. Syphills and HIV /AIDS
iv. Through contaminated Food and water.
Some pathogen are discharged in the faeces of infected person and transmitted
to other persons. Examples.Cholera, and Typhoid
v. Vectors. are spread by organism such as
fleas. mosquitoes and lice. Example of disease spread through vectors are
malaria. and sleeping sickness
CLASSIFICATION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE.
a) Epidemic diseases. These are outbreaks of communicable diseases, which affect
a large number of people in a short period of time. Examples: cholera, typhoid,
meningitis, plague, flue,
b) Pandemic diseases. These are communicable diseases which affect a whole
country, a continent or the whole world. e.g. Plaque in 14th century,
flue outbreak in 1918-1919, and the present HIV/AIDS
c) Endemic diseases.
An endemic disease is a communicable disease which regularly occurs in a particular
group of people and is difficult to get rid e.g. malaria is endemic in tropical
countries. Bilharzia is also an endemic disease.
2) Non-infectious (non communicable) diseases.
Non infectious diseases are also known as non-communicable diseases.
They are caused by environment, hormones, malnutrition, mental state or
inheritance. These are the diseases, which cannot be transmitted from one
person to another. e.g. sickle cell anaemia, albinism, kwashiorkor, arthritis,
skin cancer, diabetes, marasmus, night blindness, rickets, scurvy, beriberi,
etc. .
Causes of ill health.
i. Injures like burns, cut or fractures
Poison like drugs or alcohol.
i. Pathogens like bacteria, virus, protozoa,
fungi and worms.
v. Diet, such. Lack of balanced diet.
Genetic, like inherited disorders.
Polluted and dirty environment
Allergies
Degeneration and ageing
.Lack of proper hygiene
Lack of physical exercises.
Risk behavior like pre marital sex, alcoholism, and
extra marital sex.
Weather changes.
CLASSIFICATION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Diseases are classified depending on their causes.
a) Bacterial diseases:
These are the diseases that are caused by bacteria.
Example. typhoid fever, cholera, tuberculosis, gonorrhea,
syphilis, anthrax, pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria, plague, meningitis,
leprosy,
b) Viral diseases:
These are diseases which are caused by viruses. Examples:
AIDS, Polio, Measles, Small pox, Chicken pox, Rabies and Ebola
c) Protozoan diseases.
These are diseases caused by protozoan.
Examples.
· Amoebic dysentery: is cause by amoeba.
Trypanosomiasis is caused by trypanosome.
Malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite.
d) Fungi diseases.
These are diseases caused by fungi. Example. Ringworms,
Candidiasis and Athletes foot.
e) Genetics diseases.
These are diseases which are inherited from the parents or
grandparents. These diseases are incurable
Examples. Haemophilia, Sickle cell anaemia, Down’s syndrome
and Albinism.
f) Worm diseases.
These are diseases which are caused by worms. e.g.
elephantiasis, Taeniasis (tape worm), Encyclostomiasis (hook worm) and
bilharzia (schistosomiasis).
g) Environmental diseases and allergies.
An allergy is a condition in which
the body produces an abnormal immune response to certain antigens which are
normally harmless in the environment.
These antigens are known as allergens and the body react to
produce Histamine. These allergens include dust,
pollen, certain foods, sprays, perfume, animal hair, humid air and drugs.
Examples of allergies are asthma, hay fever, haemorrhoids.
-Symptoms of
allergy include: sneezing, swelling, itching, watery eyes and nose, and
intestinal problems.
-The effect of histamine can be countered by administration
of antihistamine drugs.
h) Degenerative diseases.
These are diseases which are caused by ageing. e.g.
arthritis, baldness, seeing and hearing problems.
i) Hormonal diseases.
These diseases which arise as a result of the inability of
the body endocrine gland to produce hormones. Examples.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Diabetes inspidus.
- Cretinism.
ii.Malnutritional disorders.
These are diseases caused by either lack of enough food or
lack of the right type of food.
Kwashiorkor is a deficiency
disease caused by lack of protein in the diet.
Obesity is caused by over eating
especially carbohydrates most of which are converted into fats.
Starvation (marasmus) is caused by
lack of enough food.
k)Mineral salt deficiency diseases.
These are diseases caused by lack of certain minerals in
the diet. Examples.
Goiter is caused by lack of iodine in the diet.
· Anaemia
is caused by lack of iron in the diet.
· Rickets
is caused by lack of phosphorus and calcium in the diet.
l)Vitamin deficiency diseases.
These are the diseases caused by lack of certain vitamins
in the diet that we take
Examples
· Night
blindness is caused by lack of vitamin A.
· Beriberi
is caused by lack of vitamin B1
· Pellagra
is caused by lack of vitamin B2.
· Pernicious
anaemia is caused by lack of vitamin B12
· Scurvy
is caused by lack of vitamin C
· Rickets
is caused by lack of vitamin D
· Sterility
is caused by lack of vitamin E
· Excessive
bleeding is caused by lack of vitamin K.
Transmission of diseases.
1. Direct Transmission, can occur through
blood transfusion, coughing, sneezing or physical contact.
Indirect Transmission, is the transmission
when some kind of intermediate agent plays a part. Eg. Tetanus, Contamination
of food (cholera, typhoid).
Communicable diseases are transmitted through varies ways:
1) Air.
The diseases which are transmitted through air are referred
to as airborne diseases.
Examples: Tuberculosis, Common cold, Influenza, Whooping
cough
2) Water.
Other diseases are transmitted through using contaminated
water. These diseases are kwon as waterborne diseases.
Examples. Cholera, Typhoid fever, Schistosomiasis and
Amoebiasis.
3) Food.
Some diseases are transmitted through dirt and contaminated
food.
Examples. Typhoid, Cholera, Dysentery.
4) Blood.
Through blood transfusion, micro organism from
one person to another if the transfused blood is contaminated .
Examples. HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Typhoid fever.
5) Contact.
Infectious diseases can also be spread through physical
contact. These infections which are transmitted through contact are known as
contagious diseases.
Example. Ring-worms, Scabies.
6) vector.
Communicable diseases are also transmitted by vectors, e.g.
tsetse flies, snail, mosquitoes etc. These diseases which spread by
a vector are called vector-borne diseases.
Examples.
a) sleeping sickness is
spread by tsetse flies
b) Malaria is spread by
female anopheles mosquito.
c) Yellow fever is
spread by black fly.
d) Schistosomiasis is spread
by snails.
e) Elephantiasis is
spread by mosquito. (culex)
f) Yellow fever is
also spread by mosquito. (aedes).
7) Sexual intercourse.
Some infections can also be transmitted through unprotected
sexual intercourse with an infected person. These diseases are known as
sexually transmitted diseases.
Example. HIV/AIDS, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Genital herpes,
Trichonomiasis and Candidiasis
Routes through which diseases causing agents enter the
bodies
a) mouth
b) nose
c) penis
d) vagina
e) anus
f) skin
g) Open wounds.
Methods used to prevent
infectious (communicable) diseases.
1) Natural barriers:
-Skin is an
example of a natural barrier that prevents the pathogens from penetrating our
bodies.
-Secretion from the body e.g. mucus and
tears, trap the pathogens.
Hydrochloric acid in the stomach kills
some of the disease-causing microorganisms.
-Antibodies, which are made by the white
blood cells, engulf pathogens and kill them.
-Sebum secreted
by sebaceous glands in the skin is antiseptic i.e. kills bacteria.
2) Water treatment. Water is treated by:-
a) Boiling
b) Adding chemicals
(chlorinication and water guard)
c) Filtration
d) Freezining
3) Observe personal and environmental hygiene.
General cleanliness of the body and the surroundings should
be observed. One should wash his hands after visiting the toilets and before
and after eating. Wash fruits and vegetables before eating.
4) Food treatment and preservation.
This immobilizes the bacteria and halts the bacterial
activities, which cause food to deteriorate. Methods of food preservation
include:-
b) Pickling
c) Refrigeration
d) Freezing
e) Boiling
f) Smoking
g) Drying
h) Salting
i) Canning
j) Pasteurization
k) Chemical treatment.
5) Drug therapy.
This is the wise and sound use of drugs, e.g. antibiotics
which cure a wide range of bacterial, viral and protozoan diseases.
6) Immunization.
This is the introduction of a vaccine into
the body of an organism to increase the ability of the body to fight against
infectious diseases.
7) Balanced Diet.
Eating a balanced diet makes some one strong and healthy.
8) Bathing
Avoid bathing in streams and pond. Bath in clean
water.
9) Overcrowding.
Avoid overcrowding places. Over crowding may lead to spread
of air borne diseases.
10) Coughing cover
your mouth when coughing.
11) Food
Cover your food all the time except when eating
.
12) Good behavior.
Avoid risky behaviour such as taking excessive alcohol, having unprotected sex,
prostitution, drug
abuse e.g. taking cocaine,.
13) Eliminating vectors and pathogens.
14) Guarantee for
the infected areas.
15) Good manners,
ie. Proper use of time for work and leisure.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
1. TYPHOID.
Cause.
This is a bacterial disease caused by bacterium
called Salmonella typhi.
This bacterium mainly survives and grows in human beings
and is expelled from the body through stool or urine. This bacterium damages
the intestinal wall and the gall bladder.
Transmission.
The disease spreads rapidly through contaminated
water and food, it is expelled from the body through the stool and
urine. Typhoid germs is confined mostly in the gall bladder. Houseflies are
potential vectors for spreading typhoid.
Symptom
The symptoms of the disease include high fever and body
aches.
Other symptoms include
-Fatigue,
-Abdominal pains,
-diarrhoea,
-Vomiting,
-Constipation.
Prevention.
-Purification of water for domestic use.
-Proper community sanitation and general cleanliness.
-Proper use of latrines, ie. Wash his hands after visiting
the toilet.
-Foods which are not cooked, e.g. fruits and salads should
be washed thoroughly using clean water.
-People be educated on the spread and prevention of the
disease.
Treatments
This disease is transmitted using antibiotics e.g.
chlroramphenical.
2.PLAGUE
Cause
It is caused by bacillus bacterium called Pesturela
pestis.
Transmission
This disease is primarily found in rats and rodents. The
primary vector in transmission of plague bacterium is the rat.
The flea contracts the bacterium by biting an infected rodent.
Human beings contract the bacterium through the bite of a rodent flea.
Eventually the infected bush or wild animals often do not die. However infected
rats often die and the flies then look for a new host preferably a human being.
Symptoms.
-After a bite from an infected flea, the person develops
fever,
-severe sickness and swelling of the lymph nodes near
the flea bite.
-Normally the patient gets worse with the bleeding in many
parts of the body. The illness becomes so severe such that patient dies within
three to five days.
Prevention.
Aims at eliminating the flea population. It is difficult to
eliminate rodents. Vaccination is in use to control plague.
Treatment.
When one is infected, antibiotics such as chloramphenical,
tetracycline or streptomycin are administered.
3.MENINGITIS.
Cause
This is an infection of the mininges. Meninges are the
membranes surrounding the brain and the spinal cord.
Types of meningitis.
Depending on the root cause of the disease there are three
types of meningitis namely;
1. Bacterial
Meningitis. This is caused by one of the most common bacteria such
as pneumococci.
2. Tuberculosis
Meningitis, This is caused by tuberculosis
bacterium, which invades the meninges.
3. Viral
meningitis, This is caused by one of the most common viruses. This
virus infects the meninges.
Transmission.
Common potential sources of infection are sick persons and
carriers of the disease. Pathogens are spread through by droplet infection.
Symptoms.
Bacterial meningitis is the most common type of meningitis.
Symptoms include
-nausea,
-vomiting,
-headache,
-fever and back pain. These symptoms results to brain
damage, restlessness and mental confusion.
Prevention.
-Patients suffering from the disease should be treated when
isolated from the others.
-People who have made contacts with meningitis patients
should be treated with antibiotics.
In case of an outbreak overcrowding should be avoided.
Treatment.
Early treatment is absolutely necessary especially for
bacterial meningitis, which responds well to antibiotics. Viral meningitis does
not respond well to antibiotics. However, it heals progressively with no
treatment.
4.CHOLERA
Cause.
This is a bacterial disease. It is cause by a bacterium
known as Vibrio cholerae. Cholera is an endemic disease in
most of the Third world countries. The disease strikes areas where there are
poor sanitary conditions and the water is not well treated.
Transmission.
Cholera is both a water and food borne disease.
Hence is transmitted by contaminated food and water. Cholera epidemics are
common in refugee camps, prisons and during floods when water supply systems
break down and unhygienic conditions prevail.
Symptoms.
i.Severe watery diarrhoea, ie. rice water
stool.
ii.Abnormal pain.
iii.Very light urine or no urine at all.
iv. Vomiting.
v. General body weakness.
vi. Blood pressure is very low.
vii.Breathing is fast and shallow.
viii.The patient loses weight rapidly.
ix.Patient develops wrinkled skin and sunken eyes because
of dehydration.
Prevention.
-Food should be well cooked. Vibrio cholerae dies at 56 0C.
-Food should be well cooked. Vibrio cholerae dies at 56 0C.
-Drinking water should be boiled.
-People be educated on the spread and prevention of the
disease.
-Proper storage of food.
-Eat warm food.
-Avoid eating raw vegetable.
-Proper use of latrines.
-Wash hands after visiting toilets.
-Wash hand before and after eating.
-Affected people be isolated/quarantine.
-During epidemics or when one is going to an infested area
must be vaccinated.
Effect
· Dehydration.
· Death.
Treatment.
· This disease is treated using
antibiotics such as tetracycline.
· Treating and preventing dehydration help
in curing cholera.
5.MALARIA.
Cause
Malaria is a protozoan disease caused by a parasite called
Plasmodium.There are several species of plasmodium,but only four are known to
affect humans. ie. Plasmodium malariae/falciparum/vivax/ovale.
Transmission.
The parasitic protozoa are transmitted from a sick person
to a healthy person by a female anopheles mosquito.Incubation period in humans
is normally about two weeks.
Symptoms.
i. High fever, and
sometimes with heavy sweating.
ii. Frontal headache.
iii. Pain in the joints.
iv. General body
weakness
v. Lack of appetite.
vi. Sometimes nausea and
vomiting.
vii. Chill with violent
shivering.
Prevention and Control.
a. Drain marshes or remove stagnant water, thus to
prevent egg laying by the female anopheles mosquito.
b. Spray light oils containing insecticide on
water that can not be drained.
c. Introduce fish eating mosquito into the
stagnant water to feed on larvae and pupae.
d. Spray walls of houses with long-lasting
insecticides
e. Fill up potholes and
shallow pools.
f. - Bury all containers, which can
hold water
g. Clear any bush around the house.
h. Sleep under a
mosquito net impregnated with permathrin, or NGAO which both repel and kill
mosquitoes.
i. Screen the
windows with mosquito proof wire mesh
j. Quarantine
or isolate those who become diseased away from other people.
k. Preventive medicines
are taken regularly to kill the parasites on entry, eg. Mepacrine.
l. Use of
mosquito repellant ointments, ie. Mospel.
Treatment.
-Quinine and chloroquine are the oldest drugs used to treat
malaria. Health authorities in some countries have banned these drugs, as
plasmodium seems to have developed resistance to these drugs.
-However there are drugs like fansidar, metakelfin,
arinate, ect, that attacks the parasite in the blood cells as well as in the
liver cells.
6.SCHISTOSOMIASIS.
The disease is also called Bilharzia or Snail fever.
Cause.
Bilharziasis is a worm disease caused by small worms called
Schistosomes.
Schistosomes live in blood in the veins of the pelvic
organs. Schstosoma is also known as the blood fluke.
The types of schistosomes.
a. Shcistosma
haematobium, causes urinary bilharzia.
b. Shcistosma
japonicum, affects large and small intestine
c. Shcistosma
mansoni, causes intestinal bilharzia.
Transmission.
Eggs are passed out of the patient through urine or
stool.When these eggs enter into water they become worms called Miracidia.
The worms swim and find an intermediate host, the Snail in which they can grow.
Miracidia leaves the snail for another host, the human
being, and here they become Cercariae.
The worms enter human through skin or mucous membrane of
the mouth.
The cercariae travel around the body and settle in the
pelvic veins where they develop into adult schistosome worms.
Symptoms.
i.The symptoms of the disease are either passing out urine
mixed with blood in the case of urinary bilharzia or passing out faeces stained
with blood in the case of intestinal bilharzia.
Accompanying these symptoms are;
ii. General body weakness.
iii.Irritation of urinary bladder or large intestine.
iv.Fever, cough and abdominal pain.
v.Loss of appetite.
vi.Sometimes there is loss of weight.
vii. Patient becomes so anemic.
viii.The spleen and the liver become very large.
ix.Fluid collects in the abdomen and in the legs, resulting
in a condition known as oedema.
Control and prevention.
a. Avoid contact
with water, which has schistosome.
b. Prevent growth of
snails: Drain stagnant water.
Introduce ducts that feed on mollusca
Using molluscides.
c. Toilets should
be used all the time and properly.
d. Health education
should be taught.
e.Eradicating the
intermediate host.
f. Kill the
parasites in the bodies of host or reservoir.
g. Boiling and
chlorination of water for domestic use.
Treatment
Praziquatel: effective for all species and have little side
effect.
Niridazole: effective on one species and have unpleasant
side effects.
STIs, STDs, HIV, and AIDS
STIs stand for sexually transmitted infections
STD stand for sexually transmitted disease.
STIs and STDs are infection and diseases respectively that spread through
sexual intercourse or other form of sexual contact
These are infections, which are transmitted mainly through
sexual contact during sexual intercourse. They are also referred to as Venereal
diseases. Examples are; syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia,
Chanchroid and Granuloma, Candidiasis, Vaginosis, Genital Herpes, Hepatitis B,
HIV/AIDS, and Trichomoniasis.
1.GONORRHOEA
This disease is caused by the gonococcus bacterium
called Neisseria gonorrhoea. The bacterium infects the
urethra in males and vaginal tract in females.
Transmission
i. Through sexual intercourse
ii. may be transmitted
to eyes by a towel
iii. The disease may
affect baby’s eyes at birth. If they pass through an infected birth canal.
iv. It can also infect
the throat if infected genitals are kissed.
Symptoms in men
-Swelling burning and pain in the reproductive tracts
-Pain or difficulty with urination.
-Drops of pus from the penis.
-Sometimes there is painful swelling of testicles.
-Rash or sores all over the body.
Symptoms in women.
Menstrual problems
Pain in the lower abdomen.
Urinary problems
Yellow discharge from the vagina.
Effects
(i) It can cause sterility
(ii) It can cause blindness
(iii) It rarely causes death
Control.
Avoid unsafe sex, ie. Sex before or outside marriage.
Pregnant women should be checked and treated if any.
Treatment
Effectively treated using antibiotics like, Kanamycin,
Streptomycin.
2.SYPHILIS
The disease is caused by bacteria called treponema
pallidum.
Transmission
i. Through sexual intercourse and
sometimes through open sore (fracture)
ii. From mother to
foetus during pregnancy as the bacterium passes through the placenta.
iii. From mother to
child during birth.
Symptoms
Syphilis has three stages
i) First
Stage or Primary Stage: development chancre i.e. a
shiny and bright ulcer like a pimple, blister or an open sore on the site of
the infection. This may last for about six weeks
ii) Second stage or
Secondary stage: If untreated after six weeks there may be development of skin
rashes, sore throat, mild fever, headache mouth sore and ulcers on lips,
swollen joints, loss of weight and appetite.
iii) Third Stage or Tertiary Stage:
this is called latent or quiet stage. What happens? Tumor may built up in the
skin and visceral (internal) organs like heart, liver and can cause death.
Prevention:
(i) Avoid irresponsible sexual
behavior. ie. To have healthy sexual relations. Avoid sex with strange person
(ii) to get medical help and treatment
immediately after the symptoms
Treatment.
Antibiotics like benzathine penicillin or tetracycline.
3. GENITAL HERPES
This is a painful skin infection caused by a virus
called Herpes simplex.
.Transmission.
Through sexual intercourse.
Through sexual intercourse.
Symptoms
a. One or more
small painful blisters, like drops of water on the skin, appear on the sex
organs, penis, vagina, anus, buttock and thighs.
b. Blisters burst and
form open sore.
c. The sores dry
up and become scabs.
d. Herpes can also
appear on the mouth as a result of oral sex.
e. The infection
can spread to eyes if a person rubs them after touching the sores.
Treatment.
Currently there is no medicine that cures herpes. Keep the
area clean. Never have sex while the blisters or sores are present.
Wash hand more often and try not to touch the sores.
5.CHANCROID
Is a bacterium infection.
Symptoms.
a. Soft painful sores on the genitals or anus.
b.Enlarged lymph nodes may develop in the groin.
Treatment.
|Give co-tremoxazole or erynthromycin for 7 days. Take
erythromycin after meals to avoid stomach upset.
Secondary Effects of Sexually Transmitted disease.
a. Infertility/sterility.
b. Pelvic inflammatory
diseases.
c. Ectopic
pregnancies.
d. Sepsis which can lead
to death.
e. Cervical cancer.
f. Premature
birth, abortion and
stillbirths.
g. Blindness of the
foetus.
6.HIV/AIDS
AIDS stands
for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
HIV stands
for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Cause.
AIDS is a viral infection caused by a strain of a virus
called HIV. The virus is mainly found in the body fluids such as blood, semen
and vaginal secretions. Also traces of HIV have been found in the sweat, saliva
and tears.
Transmission.
a. By having
sexual intercourse with an infected person.
b. By transfusion of
infected blood.
c. Mother to
Baby: -By birth, from an infected mother to her unborn
baby.
-Contact with vaginal secretion during birth.
-Breast feeding.
d By use of unsterilised surgical and skin piercing
tools, eg. Needles, pair of scissors.
Stages of HIV
Stages of HIV
i. Window
stage, the HIV virus inters the body.
ii. Incubation period,
the virus is multiplying in the body.
iii. Symptomatic period,
sings and symptoms start to show.
iv. Full blown period,
the immune system is completely destroyed.
Effects of HIV on White blood cells.
HIV replicates in particular type of white blood cell
called T4 Cell. The cell usually helps the Killer
T Cell (Helper T Cell) to fight pathogens. The virus
destroys the T4 Cell. Hence immune system breaks down and the person becomes
vulnerable to variety of diseases.
Sign and Symptoms.
b. Chronic diarrhoea for
more than a month.
c. Eventual loss
of weight, up to 10%.
d. Constant and
persistent severe cough for longer than a month.
e. Skin infection,
rashes and skin cancer.
f. Inflammation of
the lymph nodes.
g. Advance stage: Mental
confusion and eye problems.
Effects of HIV on Human body immunity.
HIV weakens the immune system by entering into the white
blood cells (lymphocytes).
Patients with AIDS are prone or susceptible to opportunistic
infections, likeTuberculosis,
ii. severe diarrhoea,
iii. skin cancer,
iv. Pneumonia.
Diseases Associated with AIDS.
i. Brain infection,
mental confusion and severe headache.
ii. Cancerous cases,
skin cancer
iii. Chest infections,
pneumonia and tuberculosis.
iv. Gut infections,
chronic diarrhea.
Prevention and Control
a) Avoid
promiscuous sex, ie. Abstain, Being faithful to one partner or use Condoms.
b) Avoid
transfusion of blood unless screened for HIV virus.
c) Avoid
sharing unsterilized surgical and skin piercing tools.
d) Health and sex
education should be given to people.
e) Pregnant
mothers should visit special clinic to protect their unborn children.
f) Avoid
risk behavior: ie. Homosexuality, prostitution, alcoholism and drug abuse.
g) Patients
should take anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs)which prolong their life span.
Treatment.
At the moment there is no treatment.
However several discoveries for drugs have been reported
but none has been confirmed as being 100% effective.
RISKY SITUATION, BEHAVIOUR AND PRACTICES.
There are activities and situation that put us at a
greater risk of being infected with STs. STDs and HIV. These includes
a. Transfusion using of sunscreen blood.
b. Sharing unsterilized needles and blades in health
center
c.Drinking alcohol,smoking and using other drug such as
bhang, heroine.
d. Having immoral friends who pressure us into bad
behaviour such as alcholism and drug abuse
e. having many sexual partners
f. Having unprotected sex.
g.sharing toothbrushes, needles and blades.
HOW TO AVOID RISKY PRACTICES, SITUATION AND BEHAVIOUR.
i..Abstain from sex before marriage
ii.Be faithful to one uninfected sexual partner
iii. Keep good company
iv. Do not share needle and blades.
v. Only screened blood should be used for transfusion.
vi. avoid taking all forms of recreation drug.
vii.Learn to resist peer pressure..
CARE OF PLWHA (People living with HIV/AIDS)
These people need special care as they fear death, feel
lonely and bad about the situation
i. Keep
wounds clean and covered
ii. Do not share sharp
things.
iii. Wear gloves when
washing hi/her bedding.
iv. Keep his/her bedding
and clothing clean.
v. Keep patient clean,
thus. Dispose his/her faeces, urine, vomit, sweat
vi. Give extra fluid to
drink
vii. Give recommended
good food, such. Balanced diet
viii. Do not let patient
smoke or use alcohol.
ix. Offer enough rest
and good sleep
x. Offer moderate
exercises.
xi. Give words of
wisdom, hope and success.
xii. Never discriminate
or stigmatize the patient.
xiii. Treat
opportunistic diseases.