INFECTIOUS DISORDERS

By: Manuel L. Hermosa, EdD Professor

 What is Flesh Eating Disease? Flesh eating disease, also known as necrotizing fasciitis (decaying skin), is a rapid progressing type of bacterial infection that destroys the skin, fat and tissue that cover the musclewithin 12 to 24 hours.

 How do you get Flesh Eating Disease? There are many different ways of acquiring the bacteria which causes this condition. The most common is when the bacteria enters your body through an open wound from a burn, cut, surgery, or insect bite.

You can also get it: In tumors or gunshot wounds If you have a muscle strain or bruise If wounds come in contact with saltwater or sea animals such as oysters and crabs. If you have a weak immune system If you are suffering from chronic heart disease, lung disease, or liver disease. If you have contact with someone who already has the disease condition. If you have chickenpox, although not all cases always result in the condition

 What causes Flesh Eating Disease? Necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by many bacteria. Some of these bacteria are proven to cause infections like impetigo or strep throat. This kind of bacteria causes mild form of infections. In rare cases, they can result in a much more dangerous infection.

 Is Flesh Eating Disease Contagious? It is possible that this disease can be passed from one person to another by direct contact, or exposure to an infected wound, or objects that have been exposed.

 Symptoms & Signs Early recognition of symptoms associated with this disease includes the following: Altered Mental State. The toxic effects of these bacteria can result in disorientation, confusion or mental dullness. When the bacteria spread to the bloodstream, shock can develop and in the long run can lead to coma. Pain. An early sign of this condition is severe pain. This is due to the fact that the nerves in the affected area are dying; hence there is poor blood circulation, leading to pain. Heart Palpitations. Infection and high fever cause an increase in heart rate, leading to palpitations. Local Skin Warmth. The affected area initially appears red in color and is hot to touch when the inflammatory process is triggered. The skin color changes from red to purple, and then to dusky gray.

 Swelling. The infected area becomes swollen plus the skin is shiny and taut. It usually takes place within 30 minutes. Blisters. A popping and crackling sound is produced when the skin is pressed, the formation of blisters may also be present. Foul Odor. When the skin and soft tissues go through the dying stage, they eventually produce a foul odor that emanates from the infected area. Ulceration. There is an opening of the skin, which develops when the infected tissue of the skin dies. Malaise. Extreme fatigue along with headache, nausea and generalized weakness are other symptoms. High Fever. Chills and sweating are common along with high fever which runs through 38.9 to 40.6 degrees Celsius or 102 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Dizziness. The disease can cause low blood pressure which results in feelings of faintness or dizziness.

 Flesh Eating Disease Treatment Once diagnosis is confirmed, treatment must be started as soon as possible. If this is not done, the condition can be fatal. Surgery The primary step is debridement of the infected area, which is done surgically. Medication Antibiotics In addition, antibiotics should be administered intravenously, as soon as suspicion arises. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy This helps in the prevention of tissue necrosis or death, and aids recuperation. Early treatment is essential. The sooner the infected area is treated, the more likely it is that serious complications can be avoided and the patient recuperates fully from the bacterial infection.

 Flesh Eating Disease Prevention There are two important things you have to remember to prevent acquiring this disease condition: Seek medical attention. If you suspect someone or manifest the symptoms yourself, you can take antibiotics as a precautionary action. Take good care of any minor cuts or wounds. Wash the infected area with warm soapy water, always keep it dry and clean, and cover it with a bandage

 LEPTOSPIROSIS Weil's disease, icterohemorrhagic fever, swamp fever, mud fever, hemorrhagic jaundice, canicola fever (Eng.), seven-day fever (India) , nanukayami fever, hasamiyami (Japan)

 Overview Leptospirosis is a potentially severe bacterial infection caused by Leptospira interrogans, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium (spirochete). Leptospirosis causing bacteria are common in tropical countries with heavy rainfall like the Philippines. Leptospirosis primarily affects people who work in contaminated flood plains or wet agricultural settings.

Symptoms Fever Headache, muscle aches Chills Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Conjunctivitis (red eyes) Rash

 Causes Leptospirosis is spread mainly by contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals and is generally not transmitted from person to person. Leptospira bacteria have been found in dogs, rats, livestock, mice, voles, rabbits, hedgehogs, frogs, fish, snakes, and certain birds and insects. The bacteria can enter the body through broken skin and mucous membranes.

 Prevention and Management Good sanitation. Do not drink stream, pond or lake water without boiling, filtering or chemical treatment. Drain areas that have stagnant or, standing water. Do not swim or wade in freshwater, mud, or flood waters. Use boots and gloves when immersion to natural waters or floods is inevitable. Control rodent (rats and mice) population in areas around the home and work sites.

 Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease which a human may get from being bitten by an animal infected with the rabies virus. Rabies is an illness that is passed directly from animal to animal and from animal to human. Rabies can causes acute encephalitis or inflammation of the brain in mammals

Rabies is also called as "Hydrophobia", "Madness", "Rage", and "Fury"

 Animals that carry rabies Almost any wild or domestic animal can potentially get rabies, the most common wild reservoirs of rabies are: Bats are the most common animals responsible for the transmission of human rabies Cats are the most common domestic animals with rabies Dogs are the most common domestic rabid animals worldwide. Fish, reptiles, and birds are not known to carry the rabies virus. Large rodents like beavers, woodchucks/groundhogs have been found to have rabies in some areas of the United States. Rabies is very rare in small rodents like rats, squirrels, rabbits and hares. Raccoons are the most common wild animals infected with rabies Skunks, foxes, bats, and coyotes are the most frequently affected of rabies

 Causes of rabies Virus: The virus that causes rabies is the lyssa virus, and it is one of the few in that particular group which can cause illness in man. Bitten by Animal: People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal Others: It is also possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.

 Signs & Symptoms of rabies Abnormal Postures & Thoughts, Aggressiveness, Confusion, Difficulty in Speaking, Excessive Movements Extreme Sensitivity to bright lights, sounds, touch, Fatigue , Fever, Hallucinations, Headache, Increased Production of Saliva, Irritability, Loss of Appetite, Muscle Aches and Spasms, Nausea, Paralysis, Seizures, Weakness

 In the advanced stage of the infection, these symptoms may develop: Extreme breathing problem Increased production of saliva causing the "foaming at the mouth" Double vision Problems moving facial muscles

 Diagnosis of rabies Testing: There is no way to detect rabies if the rabies virus has been passed to you. So the testing is not required at all. Examination: Patient will be taken vital signs like temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure etc. He/she will be asked a lot of questions about the animal and the exposure. Other illnesses: The diagnosis of rabies is complex and cannot be determined in the emergency department. If the doctor is concerned about rabies or another form of central nervous system infection, you may be admitted to the hospital.

 Patient would be given a number of other tests like: Blood Test to examine virus in blood Spinal tap to examine spinal fluid for evidence of infection. X-ray and CT scan tests etc.

 Preventions of rabies To help prevent rabies Animals with rabies might be aggressive and vicious, or tired and weak so don't approach stray animals. Don't let pets roam Remind kids that they should never touch or feed stray cats or dogs wandering in the neighborhood or elsewhere. Report any stray animals to your local health authorities or animal-control officer. Vaccinate your pet. Rabies vaccines are available for dogs, cats and farm animals

 As a precaution against rabies or any other infections, call your doctor: If you are planning to move abroad and have a fear that you may come into contact with rabid animals If your child is too young to describe the contact with the animal that might have rabies If your child has been exposed to bats, even if there is no bite

 Treatments of rabies Some of the following treatment of rabies: Tetanus Injection: At the hospital the doctor will first clean the wound thoroughly and make sure that your child's tetanus immunizations are current. Wound care: The wounds should be cleaned with mild soap and a virus-killing cleanser Human Rabies Immune Globulin: A one-time injection of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), which is a substance that provides rapid, short-term protection against rabies may decided by the doctor to start treating your child

 In the following conditions the rabies vaccine should be avoided: Avoid further immunization of once a complication has occurred with the vaccine. Avoid pre exposure vaccine if person is known to be allergic to any constituents of the vaccine. Avoid prophylactic use in children, adolescents, pregnant women & adults on treatment for any acute illness.

 If your child is bitten by an animal If your child has been bitten by an animal, take the following steps right away: Wash the bite area with mild soap/cleanser and clean water Call the doctor or go to a nearby emergency department Call local animal-control authorities to help find the animal that caused the bite. The animal may need to be detained and observed for signs of rabies. Try to get all the information about the animal, including vaccination status and the owner's name and address. Notify your local health department, particularly if the animal hasn't been vaccinated.

 When to Seek Medical Care If you think an exposure to a rabid animal has occurred, call your doctor immediately. If you suspect that your child has been bitten by an unknown dog, bat, rat, cat or other animal, contact your doctor immediately or take your child to the emergency department. The doctor should discuss both the animal's risk for having rabies and the risk of the exposure for transmission of the virus. The doctor also should know if you have previously received vaccination against rabies, either because you're in a high-risk profession

Myths about Rabies Myth: Human-to-Human Transmission not possible Humans are mammals. Therefore, theoretically, human-to-human rabies transmission is possible. However, there are no laboratory-tested cases to confirm that this has actually happened. But there have been 8 confirmed cases of death due to human-tohuman rabies transmissions resulting from cornea transplants.

Myth: The Old Cure vs. the New Years ago the idea of getting vaccinated against rabies was nearly as frightening as rabies' deadly symptoms, because it required a series of very painful injections in the stomach. Modern science has improved the vaccine, so it is not as uncomfortable to receive and no one gets an injection in the stomach.