Diseases Transmitted Through Air

DISEASES TRANSMITTED THROUGH AIR

Air borne disease are spread, when droplets of pathogens are expelled into the air, while coughing , sneezing or talking. The pathogen can remain in air for several hours.

Types of Airborne Diseases

1. Influenza

Is an seasonal disease, caused by an virus which leads to respiratory illness flu is highly Contagious and is normally spread by the coughs and sneezes of an Infected person.

Causative organism

Incubation period

1 to 4 days

Symptoms

Flu and cold symptoms may looks same with runny and blocked nose , sore throat and cough but some symptoms of flu are different from a heavy cold

·            Cough

·            High Temperature

·            Sore throat

·            Head ache

·            Cold sweats and shivers

·            Body aches

·            Fatigue, Feeling exhausted

·            In some cases nausea, vomiting & diarrhea also common

Management

·            Antibiotics

·            Antivirals

·            Painkillers

·            Avoid crowded place

·            Stay at home

·            Consume plenty of liquids

Risk factors

The risk and complications are higher in certain people

·            Pregnant women

·            Babies and young children

·            The individuals with cardiovascular disease

·            The people with asthma or bronchitis

·            The low immune system function

Preventive measures

Nasal – spray flu vaccine

One B virus – The protection begins about 2 weeks after receiving the vaccination.

2. Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is also known as varicella is a highly contagious infection caused by varicella zoster virus, The blister like rash appears.

Causative organism

·             Varicella zoster

·             Incubation period: 10–21 days

Symptoms

Before the appearance of rash, the fever will be the sign

·             Aching muscles

·             Loss of Appetite

·             Rash – covers whole body

·             Blisters – on the top of the spots  Mouth soreness

Complications

·             Chicken pox – develop pneumonia

·             Encephalitis – Inflammation of the brain  Rey’s syndrome – liver and brain swelling

Management

·             Pain or fever – [Acetaminophen]  Itching – Calamine lotion

·             Dehydration – Sugar – Freepopsicles

·             Antiviral

·             Acyclovir

Preventive measures

·             Two doses of varicella vaccine

·             At 12 to 15 months

·             At 4 to 6 years

3. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is swelling [inflammation] of the lung tissue, caused by a bacterial infection.

Causative organism

·            Streptococcus pneumoniae

·            Hemophilus influenzae

·            Staphylococcus aureus

Incubation period

·            1day to 1 week

Types of pneumonia

Derived by cause, location, Acquired.

Signs and symptoms

·             Chest pain while breathe or cough

·             Shortness of breathe

·             Fatigue

·             Confusion

·             Fever

·             Sweating and shivering chills

·             Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

·             Coughing up blood (Haemoptysis)

·             Wheezing

·             Rapid heart beat

·             Loss of Appetite

Complications

·             Bacteremia – The infection spread to the blood stream which leads the septic shock and low blood pressure.

·             Lung Abscesses

·             Impaired breathing

·             Acute respiratory distress syndrome  Pleural effusion and death

Diagnosis

·             Blood test

·             Sputum test

·             Urine test

·             CT scan

·             Fluid sample [ pleural fluid]

·             Bronchoscopy

·             Chest x- ray

Risk factors

·             Being hospitalized

·             Chronic disease

·             Smoking

·             Weakened or suppressed immune system

Management

·             Intravenous Antibiotics (Tetracycline, Levofloxacin)

·             Respiratory Therapy (Spirometry, Breathing exercise)

·             Fatal Oxygen

Preventive Measures

Pneumonia Vaccine

·             Prevnar 13

·             Prevnar 23

·             Cigarette smoking to be quit

·            Cover while cough and sneezes

·            Dispose of used tissues promptly

·            Practice good hygiene

4.  Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially fatal contagious disease. That can affect almost any part of the body. It’s mainly an infection of lung.

Causative organism

1.     Mycobacterium tuberculi

Incubation period

2 to 12 weeks

Transmission of TB

·            Cough droplet

·            Crowded places with poor ventilation

·            Splitting of saliva

Symptoms

·            Chest pain

·            Coughing with bloody sputum

·            Shortness of breath

·            Cloudy and Reddish urine

·            Evening raise in temperature

·            Fatigue

Diagnosis

·            Bacteriological Test (Zeihl – Neelsen stain)

·            Sputum culture test

·            Chest x-ray

·            Nucleic acid amplification

·            Mantoux test (PPD)

Management

·            First line drugs: Eg: Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutal

·            Second line drugs: Eg: Cycloserine, Ethionamide, Levofloxacin

Dosage Regimen

·             Intensive phase + Continuation phase

·             HREZ (2months) + HRE (4months)

Preventive Measures

·            Mask

·            BCG Vaccine

·            Regular medical follow up

·            Isolation of patient

·            Ventilation

·            Natural sunlight

·            UV germicidal radiation