Mumps

Another infectious disease like measles or chicken pox, mumps is caused by a virus which attacks mainly the glandular and nervous tissues. Although the morbidity rate tends to be high, mortality rate is negligible. Causative agent Mumps is caused by a virus called Myxovirus parotiditis. Source of infection The disease is spread by direct contact… [ Continue Reading ]

Hepatitis B

Another infectious disease, Hepatitis B, which is caused by a virus, occurs largely among newborns and young children. High risk group People who are more likely to contract the disease are surgeons, recipients of blood transfusions, health care and laboratory personnel, prostitutes, drug abusers, infant of a carrier mother. Source of infection Contaminated blood and… [ Continue Reading ]

Hepatitis A

An extremely infectious disease, Hepatitis A is caused by a virus which takes several weeks to disappear. The disease is, however, largely benign and is usually seen in children. The infection tends to be mild in young children and its clinical severity increases with the age of the person affected. Resistance The virus is resistant… [ 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 ]

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 ]