Hepatitis (Jaundice)

What is Hepatitis ?

Hepatitis A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A causes inflammation that affects your liver's ability to function.

How does it spread?
It is contracted from contaminated food or water or from close contact with someone who's already infected

What are the symptoms of Hepatitis?
Symptoms in young children will be mild, but symptoms in older children and adults are likely to be more severe. The signs and symptoms appear suddenly and may be mistaken for intestinal flu.

The symptoms are:

Fatigue

Nausea and vomiting

Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially in the area of your liver on your right side beneath your lower ribs

Loss of appetite

Low-grade fever

Dark urine

Muscle pain

Itching

Yellowing of skin and white of eyes.(Jaundice)

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

The symptoms appear after one month of the entry of the virus into the body.

How is it diagnosed?

Blood test for measuring the Bilirubin levels and enzyme levels in your body are done to detect the presence of Hepatitis.

What are the complications of Hepatitis?

In severe cases liver damage leading to liver failure - a life threatening condition may develop.

What is the treatment for Hepatitis?

No specific treatment exists for hepatitis. Instead, the main focus is on making sure you get adequate nutrition and avoid any permanent liver damage.Soft, easily digestable foods are suggestive.

What precautions should the infected person follow?

The most important precautions are careful handwashing after each toilet visit and proper disposal of sewage .

How to prevent Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is highly contagious. Preventing the spread of the virus involving self protection and protecting others from infection is important. The protective measures are:

* Hepatitis vaccine

* Good hygiene

* Good sanitation

Shigellosis

What is shigellosis?

Shigellosis is a bacterial infection affecting the intestinal tract. It is a fairly common disease; Most cases are seen in the summer and early fall and occur as single cases or outbreaks.

Who gets shigellosis?
Anyone can get shigellosis but it is recognized more often in young children.

How is the shigella germ spread?

Shigella germs are found in the intestinal tract of infected people, and is spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by an infected person. It can also be spread by direct contact with an infected person.

What are the symptoms?

People exposed to the shigella germ may experience mild or severe diarrhea, often with fever and traces of blood or mucous in the stool. Some infected people may not show any symptoms.

How soon do symptoms appear?

The symptoms may appear one to seven days after exposure but usually within two to three days.

When and for how long is a person able to spread shigellosis?

Most people pass shigella in their feces (stool) for one to two weeks. Certain antibiotics may shorten the carrier phase.

Should infected people be isolated or excluded from school or work?

Since the germ is passed in the feces of an infected person, people with active diarrhea or those who are unable to control their bowel habits should be isolated. Most infected people may return to work or school when their diarrhea ceases, provided that they carefully wash their hands after toilet visits.

How is shigellosis treated?

Shigellosis can usually be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics commonly used for treatment are ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (also known as Bactrim* or Septra*), nalidixic acid, or ciprofloxacin. Appropriate treatment kills the Shigella bacteria that might be present in the patient's stools, and shortens the illness. Unfortunately, some Shigella bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics and using antibiotics to treat shigellosis can actually make the germs more resistant in the future. Persons with mild infections will usually recover quickly without antibiotic treatment. Therefore, when many persons in a community are affected by shigellosis, antibiotics are sometimes used selectively to treat only the more severe cases.

What can be done to prevent the spread of shigellosis?

Since germs are passed in feces, the single most important prevention activity is careful hand washing after using the toilet.

Campylobacteriosis

What is campylobacteriosis?

Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract and, rarely, the bloodstream. Most cases are seen in the summer months and occur as single cases. Outbreaks are uncommon.

Is this a new disease?

No. Campylobacteriosis has probably been in existence for many years but has only recently been recognized as a common infection as a result of improved laboratory methods.

Who gets campylobacteriosis?

Anyone can get campylobacter infection.

How is the germ spread?

Campylobacter are generally spread by consumption of contaminated food or water and, occasionally, by contact with infected people or animals.

What are the symptoms of campylobacteriosis?
Campylobacteriosis may cause mild or severe diarrhea, often with fever and traces of blood in the stool.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

The symptoms generally appear two to five days after the exposure.

Where are the campylobacter germs found?

Many animals including swine, cattle, dogs and birds (particularly poultry) carry the germ in their intestines. These sources in turn may contaminate meat products (particularly poultry), water supplies, milk and other items in the food chain.

For how long can a person carry the campylobacter germ?


Generally, infected people will continue to pass the germ in their feces for a few days to a week or more. Certain antibiotics may shorten the carrier phase.

Do infected people need to be isolated or excluded from school or work?

Since the organism is passed in the feces, only people with active diarrhea who are unable to control their bowel habits (infants and young children for example) should be isolated. Most infected people may return to work or school when their stools become formed provided that they carefully wash their hands after toilet visits. Food handlers, children in day care and health care workers must obtain the approval of the local or state health department before returning to their routine activities.

What is the treatment for campylobacteriosis?

Most people infected with Campylobacter will recover on their own or require fluids to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics are occasionally used to treat severe cases or to shorten the carrier phase, which may be important for food handlers, children in day care and health care workers. Since relapses occasionally occur, some physicians might treat mild cases with antibiotics to prevent a recurrence of symptoms.

How can campylobacteriosis be prevented?

1. Always treat raw poultry, beef and pork as if they are contaminated and handle accordingly:

o Wrap fresh meats in plastic bags at the market to prevent blood from dripping on other foods.
o Refrigerate foods promptly; minimize holding at room temperature.
o Cutting boards and counters used for preparation should be washed immediately after use to prevent cross contamination with other foods.
o Avoid eating raw or undercooked meats.
o Ensure that the correct internal cooking temperature is reached particularly when using a microwave.

2. Avoid eating raw eggs or undercooking foods containing raw eggs.
3. Avoid using raw milk.
4. Encourage careful handwashing before and after food preparation.

Make sure children, particularly those who handle pets, wash their hands carefully.

Giardiasis (beaver fever)

What is giardiasis?

Giardiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Giardia lamblia. It is a fairly common cause of diarrheal illness. Cases may occur sporadically or in clusters or outbreaks.

Who gets giardiasis?

Anyone can get giardiasis but it tends to occur in people who consume improperly treated surface water.

How is this parasite spread?

The giardia parasite is passed in the feces of an infected person or animal and may contaminate water or food. person to person transmission may also occur in day care centers or other settings where handwashing practices are poor.


What are the symptoms of giardiasis?
People exposed to giardia may experience mild or severe diarrhea, or in some instances no symptoms at all. Fever is rarely present. Occasionally, some will have chronic diarrhea over several weeks or months, with significant weight loss.


How soon do symptoms appear?
The symptoms may appear from three to 25 days after exposure but usually within 10 days.

For how long can an infected person carry giardia?

The carrier stage generally lasts from a few weeks to a few months. Treatment with specific antibiotics may shorten the carrier stage.


Where are the giardia parasites found?

Giardia has been found in fecal wastes of nfected people (with or without symptoms) and wild and domestic animals.



What is the treatment for giardiasis?



Antibiotics such as albendazole, metronidazole or furizolidone are often prescribed by doctors to treat giardiasis. However, some individuals may recover on their own without medication.



Should an infected person be excluded from work or school?

People with active diarrhea who are unable to control their bowel habits (infants and young children for example) may need to be excluded from settings such as day care or group activities where they may present a risk to others. After they have been treated and have recovered, they may be permitted to return. In addition, some local health departments may require follow-up stool testing to confirm that the person is no longer contagious. Individuals who are not in high-risk settings may return to their routine activities when they have recovered, provided that they carefully wash their hands after each toilet visit.


What can a person or community do to prevent the spread of giardiasis?

Three important preventive measures are:

Carefully wash hands thoroughly after toilet visits.

Carefully dispose of sewage wastes so as not to contaminate surface water or groundwater.

Avoid consuming untreatedwater from springs, streams or lakes

LEPTOSPIROSIS

What is Leptospirosis?

It is a bacterial disease caused by a spirochaete, Leptospira interrogans affecting human and animals.

What are the symptoms of Leptospirosis in humans?

High fever, severe headache,Chills,Vomitting, Conjuctival suffusion,Muscle ache, Jaundiceand Haemorrhagic manifestations are the common symptoms of Leptospirosis.

How does Leptospirosis spread?

It is spread to humans through contact with the environment contaminated with the urine of carrier animals.(infected animals). Direct transmission of leptospirosis is rare.


Which animals act as carrier animals?

In Tamilnadu, the most common carrier animals are Rats, Cow, Buffalo, Goat, Sheep and Dogs .


How to differentiate Leptospirosis from other fever?

Acute febrile illness with headache, myalgia associated with conjuctival suffusion, Jaundice, living in an environment contaminated with animal urine or a history of exposure to infected animals can be suspected for Leptospirosis.


Will Leptospirosis cause death?

The severe form of the disease characterized by severe jaundice with Multi-organ failure may lead to death.


What is the specific treatment for Leptospirosis?

For confirmed Leptospirosis cases, the treatment is Inj.Benzathine Penicillin – 5million units/day for 5days. For hyper reactive cases ,Tab.Erythromycin 250mg-4times/day for 5days or Tab.Doxycycline 100mg twice daily for 10days.


8. How can we prevent Leptospirosis?

Disease prevention consist of good sanitation. Health education to the community to increase awareness about how to control and prevent the disease will prevent the disease spread. The use of boots and gloves on hazardous places can minimize the risk of spread.

Amebiasis (amebic dysentery)

What is amebiasis?
Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. Amebiasis affects 15% of the Indian population.

Who gets amebiasis?
Anyone can get amebiasis. There is no racial difference in the occurrence of the disease. It is frequently a household infection. When an individual in a family is infected, others in the family may also be affected.

How is amebiasis spread?
Amebiasis is contracted by consuming contaminated food or water containing the cyst stage of the parasite. It can also be spread by person to person contact.

What are the symptoms of amebiasis?
People exposed to this parasite may experience mild or severe symptoms or no symptoms at all. Fortunately, most exposed people do not become seriously ill. The mild form of amebiasis includes nausea, loose stools, weight loss, abdominal tenderness and occasional fever. Rarely, the parasite will invade the body beyond the intestines and cause a more serious infection, such as a liver abscess.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
The symptoms may appear from a few days to a few months after exposure but usually within two to four weeks.

For how long can an infected person carry this parasite?
Some people with amebiasis may carry the parasite for weeks to years, often without symptoms.

Where are the parasites that cause amebiasis found?
The parasite lives only in humans. Fecal material from infected people may contaminate water or food, which may spread the parasites to anyone who consumes them.

How is it diagnosed?
Examination of stools under a microscope is the most common way for a doctor to diagnose amebiasis. Sometimes, several stool samples must be obtained because the number of amoeba being passed in the stool, which varies from day to day, may be too low to detect from any single sample.

What is the treatment for amebiasis?
Specific antibiotics such as metronidazole can be prescribed by a doctor to treat amebiasis.

Should an infected person be excluded from work or school?
Although people with diarrhea due to amebiasis should not attend school or go to work, it is not necessary to exclude infected persons when they feel better and stools are normal. Casual contact at work or school is unlikely to transmit the disease. Special precautions may be needed by foodhandlers or children enrolled in day care settings. Consult your local health department for advice in such instances.

What precautions should the infected person follow?
The most important precautions are careful handwashing after each toilet visit and proper disposal of sewage .

How to Control and prevent Amebiasis?
Water filtration and boiling ae effective than chemical treatment of water against amoebiasis.

Cholera

What is cholera?
Cholera is a bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. It is caused by a germ called Vibrio cholerae. Although only a few cases are recognized in the United States each year, epidemic levels of cholera have recently been reported in parts of Central and South America.

Who gets cholera?
Cholera affects all ages and both sexes. Movement of population(eg. pilgrimages, marriages, fairs and festivals) results in increased risk of exposure to infection.

How is the germ spread?
The cholera germ is passed in the stools. It is spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by the fecal waste of an infected person. This occurs more often in underdeveloped countries lacking adequate water supplies and proper sewage disposal.

What are the symptoms of cholera?
People exposed to cholera may experience mild to severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Fever is usually absent.

How soon do symptoms appear?
The symptoms may appear from a few hours to five days after exposure.

What is the treatment for cholera?
Because of the rapid dehydration that may result from severe diarrhea, replacement of fluids by mouth or by the intravenous route is critical. Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, are also used to shorten the duration of diarrhea and shedding of the germs in the feces.

Is there a vaccine for cholera?
A vaccine is available. However, the vaccine offers only partial protection (50%) for a short duration (two to six months) . The use of the current vaccine cannot be justified as they are of no value in controlling epidemics.

How can cholera be prevented?
The single most important preventive measure is to avoid consuming uncooked foods or water. The next important preventive measure is sanitary disposal of excreta and handwashing with soap after defecation.