Typhoid

Typhoid fever is caused by an organism called Sulmonella Typhi which is transmitted from the faeces and urine of a disease carrier. And only lack of hygeine such as not washing hands before eating or cooking or consuming contaminated food can lead to typhoid. Clinically, it is characterised by continuous fever for three to four… [ Continue Reading ]

Amoebiasis

Amoebiasis refers to harbouring the parasite Entamoeba histolytica with or without clinical manifestations. It is a common infection of the human gastro-intestinal tract and is quite common in India and other developing countries. Sometimes, it is also present outside the intestines and may affect the liver (liver abscess), lungs, brain, spleen and skin. Transmission Most… [ Continue Reading ]

Birth of Preventive Medicine

Preventive medicine developed as a branch of modern medicine distinct from public health in the 18th century. It all began with a landmark breakthrough — the discovery of a vaccine against small pox. Preventive medicine got a firm foothold in the 19th century when the causative agents of many diseases were discovered and the germ… [ Continue Reading ]

Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever looks a lot like dengue haemorrhagic fever and is transmitted by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. It also affects monkeys and other vertebrates and is caused by a virus called Flavivirus Fibricus. A patient suffering from yellow fever remains infective during the first three to four days of illness and a mosquito becomes infective after… [ Continue Reading ]

Rubella

Rubella or German measles is manifested in a mild, benign form among children. However, if a pregnant woman gets infected, it can cause some serious congenital defects in the child. Causative agent Rubella is caused by an RNA virus. The virus has been recovered from the nasopharynx, throat, blood, CSF and urine. Source of infection… [ Continue Reading ]