Question

In this section we studied epidemiology. Give an example of an infectious disease and how the etiologic agents would spread from the reservoir to the members of your community. Be sure to include the type of reservoir and the preferred portal of entry for the disease

Answer 1

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi. The disease can spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious bacterial Infectious disease.

Tuberculosis is a contagious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis mainly affect lungs but can spread to other parts. Tuberculosis was leading cause of death in United state earlier, now most are cured with antibiotics.

Source and transmission of infection:

The source of infection is usually open case of pulmonary tuberculosis. The mode of infection is by direct inhalation of aerosolised bacilli contained in droplet. Coughing, sneezing, talking, laughing, release infectious droplets. These droplets may transmit the disease. The infectious dose of tuberculosis is very small. The inhalation of fewer than 10 bacteria may cause an infection. People with frequent or close contact with people with TB are at particularly high risk of becoming infected.

The patient with latent TB, i.e; patients which have been infected by tuberculosis bacteria but are not I'll with the disease cannot transmit the disease.

The reservoir of infection is infected patient with active infection.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of Tuberculosis are a cough that last more than 3 weeks, Chest pain, coughing with blood contain mucus, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Epidemiology: One - quarter of world's population has been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with new infection occuring in about 1% of the population each year. Tuberculosis is the second most common cause of death from infectious disease after HIV. The total number of diseases Ares decreasing from 2005. Tuberculosis is more common in developing countries.

Risk Groups: Tuberculosis mostly affect adults, however all age groups are at risk. People who are infected with HIV are 19 times more likely to develop active TB. Person with immune impairment also are at high risk. Smoking increase the risk of Tuberculosis.

Laboratory test like skin test, microscopic examination of Sputum, Blood tes and Chest Xray are done .

Treatment of Tuberculosis is available. Active, drug susceptible TB disease is treated with a standard 6- month course of 4 antimicrobial drug that are provided with information and support to patient.