Month: November 2015

Definition:- Typhoid fever is an acute communicable disease caused by Salmonella typhi . The disease is marked by prolonged fever, toxic symptoms& constitutional disturbances.
The term “enteric fever” includes both typhoid & paratyphoid fevers.
Epidemiological factors:-
(1) Agent:- Salmonella typhi is responsible for 95% of cases. S. para A is responsible for about 5% of cases.
(2) Source of infection:- patients & carriers of typhoid fever
(3) Infective material:- Faeces and urine of infected persons.
(4) Age:-The diseases affects all age groups, but more commonly between 5 and 19 years.
(5) Immunity:- An attack of typhoid fever gives a fairly lasting immunity. Second attacks may also occur.
(6) Poor sanitation:- Lack of sanitation and safe water are involved in transmission.
(7) Unhygienic habits:- Open air defecation , urination, low standards of food hygiene, illiteracy & health ignorance are responsible for the endemicity of typhoid fever in India.
(8) Mode of transmission:- Faecal –oral & urine- oral routes.
(9) Incubation period:- 7 to 28 days.
Control of typhoid fever:-
Several control measures are common to all gastro-intestinal diseases. These are discussed in the section on “Control of Cholera”
The principles of control of typhoid fever are given below:-
(1)Patients
• Notification
• Isolation
• Treatment:-Fluroquinolone e.g.ofoxacin or ciprofloxacin, cefixime, azithromycinetc.
• Proper disposal of feaces urine.
• Disinfection of clothing , linen and fomites.
• Immunization of contents with typhoid fever
(2) Community
• Immunization with typhoid fever vaccine
• Provision of safe water & improvement of sanitation.
• Food sanitation:- protection of food from flies dust, preventing from carriers.
• Detection of typhoid carriers and treating them.
• Health education in matters of food & personal hygiene.
Anti typhoid vaccines:- The anti- typhoid vaccine currently manufactured in India is –
— monovalent & bivalent
— Heat killed
–Phenol-preserved vaccine

Description:-POLIOMYLITIS
Definition:-Poliomyelitis is a virus infection. It is primarily an infectious disease of the human alimentary tract, but may affect the brain, spinal cord & nerves resulting in paralysis.
Polio does not always cause paralysis.
Epidemiological factors:-
(1)Agents:- The causative agents is polio virus which has 3 serotypes designated as type1, type2& type 3. Type 1 is responsible for all major epidemics.
(2) Sources of infection:– Faeces mostly in young children
–Pharyngeal secretions
(3)Age:- The majority of cases contract polio between 1&2 years.
(4) Environmental conditions:– Overcrowding , poor sanitation,
rainy season, rural& urban areas.
(5) Mode of transmission:– Faecal-oral route by contaminated
Water,food or flies.
–Droplet infection from nasopharynx
(6)Incubation period:- 7-21 days (range 3-35 days)

Clinical Features:- 90% of cases are asymptomatic , about 8 % suffer from mild illness ,& 1-2 % are severely affected.
Other symptoms:-
• Fever
• Headache
• Diarrhea& vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Pain, weakness & stiffness of neck & back
• Paralysis of affected limb
Diagnosis Investigations:-
• Serological testing for polio viral antibiotics.
• X-ray
• Physical examination
Prevention:-
(1)Polio can be prevented by active immunization of all infects & children.
(2) The vaccine widely used is oral polio vaccine (OPV) which is a Sabin type of vaccine.
(3)It can also be administered soon after birth.
(4)Hot milk & hot fluids should not be given for at least half an hour after the administration.
(5)Recent studies indicate that breast feeding does not impede the effectiveness of OPV.
(6) Breast milk can be given whenever the child Hungary.
(7) A point of great importance is that polio vaccine should be stored at sub – zero temperature in a deep freeze to prevent inactivation.
Strategies for polio eradication in India:-
(1) Conduct pulse polio immunization days every year until poliomyelitis is eradicated.
(2)Sustain high levels of routine immunization coverage.
(3)Monitor OPV coverage at district level & below
Key Words:-
(1) Pulse polio
(2) Vaccine
(3)Paralysis
(4)sign & symptoms
(5)faecal route