Question

PARASITOLOGY QUESTION:

Amoeba case study

Calatagan is a third-class municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. It has a total population of 30,500 with a total of 8 barangays. The municipality’s major revenue comes from agriculture and aquaculture. A section of the population is employed in “Ang Pulo,” an island housing a mangrove forest conservation park located in the northeast. Some residents of Calatagan are settled along the major highway that connects it to neighboring municipalities, while some live further inland, usually near farms. Major streets are cemented but small streets are not. Deep well is the main source of water but there is one water distillery station serving three barangays in the municipality. In the summer of 2005, there were 950 cases of a rare eye infection in one barangay that affected residents of different ages. The infection is characterized by severe pain and reddening of the cornea. Antiviral drugs where administered but the patients’ condition did not improve. There were also 1500 reported cases of diarrhea by the RHU. Stool examination results from specimens submitted by patients revealed an increase in WBC count. Strange crystal-like structures were also seen under the microscope in some of the stool specimens. The mayor of Calatagan ordered an immediate investigation of the probable cause of the cases.

Questions to answer:

1. Identify the probable cause of the incidents in Calatagan, Batangas. Justify. (provide references for your answers)

2. What could have been the sources of infection of the residents in Calatagan? Describe the probable mode of infection for each identified cause. Cite examples and references.

3. Briefly provide a possible plan of action on how to control the cases in Calatagan.

Answer 1

1. Answer:- The probable cause of the incidents in Calatagan, Batangas may be adenovirus infection . Because the case study provide us information that the symptoms of infection include rare eye infection where patients suffered from severe eye pain and reddening of cornea and 1500 cases were reported to have diarrhoea. These all symptoms are similar with adenovirus infection as the case study also reveal that affected individual are from all the age group .

Again under microscopic observation of stool specimen they appeared as crystal like structure which also indicate that illness was caused by adenovirus infection because adenovirus appear as crystal lattice under observation of microscope.

Q.2.Answer:- The sources of infection in Calatagan might be the contaminated water and dirty drainage system and faecal matter as the people are settled in major highways which connect neighbouring municipalities . Mode of infection might be droplet infection for example if an infected person cough or sneeze then it rapidly transmitted to another person quickly , if people intake contaminated food and water then also the infection occur and direct touch with the infected person also cause the disease.

Q.3. Answer:- To control the cases in Calatagan the possible plan of action are ------

1. In order to check the spread of disease people should maintain hygiene such as proper wash of hand before eating something and and washing Vegetables after bringing to home .

2. In order to make relief of eye pain and itching in eye infection several medicines such as antihistamine and topical vasoconstrictor are used .

3. In order to relief from weakness occur due to diarrhoea , patients must be provided ORS and energy drink and more liquids.

4. Antibiotics doesn't work on this illness so people can only be given other medicines which can give them relief but being careful and hygienic one can stop the transmission.

5. Natural treatment such as juice of guava leaves , juice of raw banana and heart leaves can affective towards controlling diarrhoea.