Question

research about blastomycosis common in Oman and its emergence( with evidence that it is one of the common microbial infection in Oman e.g. % of cases )
The research report will include the following information about blastomycosis :
a.MOT( mode of transmission)
b.CA (causative agent)
c.signs and symptoms of infection
d.laboratory test
e.treatment or antimicrobial therapy
f. appropriate measures to prevent or control the infection.

Answer 1

Blastomycosis is an infection caused by fungus. The yearly incidents of cases in Oman are nearly 1 or 2 cases per 100,000 individuals. There has occured no outbreak of the disease yet in Oman.

a. Mode of transmission

The spores of Blastomyces dermatitidis which are released in the air. When a helathy person inhales it, s/he develops Blastomycosis.

b. Causative agent

The causative agent is Blastomyces dermatitidis

c. Signs and symptoms of infection

• Fever
• Pain in joints
• Muscle pain
• Acute cases show pneumonia like symptoms (fever, chills, cough, chest pain)
• Chronic cases show Tuberculosis like symptoms (fever, cough, night sweats, etc)
• skin and bone-lytic lesions

d. Laboratory test

• Presence of yeast cells in histopathology of tissues
• Antibody tests
• Nested Polymerase chain reaction using specific primers

e. Treatment or antimicrobial therapy

Patients must receive antifungal therapy. Drugs like Amphotericin B, Fluconazole , etc are genrally used. However, the severity of illness, site of infection, etc must be carefully examined before prescribing the treatment.

f. Appropriate measures to prevent or control the infection.

No vaccines are available for the disease. The best one can do is to avoid the places like forests that have records of infecting people with the disease. The disease is rare even in the regions where it is endemic. So, it has no established prevention measures.

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