Electric Brain

The year 2009 saw an outbreak of a new strain of H1N1 influenza which soon reached such proportions as to be declared a ”pandemic” or a global infection. It was first seen in Mexico which was virtually shut down as a precaution. Also known as Swine Flu because of elements of swine flu virus – apart from avian and human flu viruses – it had nothing to do with consumption of pork or allied products. Symptoms of H1N1 are sore throat, mild fever, headache, nausea, muscle and joint pain etc. The most viulnerable are  those with respiratory problems, diabetics, the very young and the aged, the pregnant. Even the healthy are affected by respiratory problems and viral pneumonia. Infection is spread by “respiratory droplets” such as nasal secretions and those with symptoms are advised to stay at home. Better personal hygiene has also been stressed as a means of reducing possibility of infection. While many recover without medical aid and  rest over time, serious infections have to be treated with anti-virals.
High mortality at the level of 13000 deaths was reported worldwide. USA alone had more than 9000 deaths. The infection seems to have abated now with fewer reports of this disease.

This is a disease that is most often confused with small pox which is a much more serious affliction. Both take the form of blisters all over the body. Children are most vulnerable to it. However doctors can recognise the difference from the blisters. While small pox leaves scars chicken pox does not  and heals over a period of two to three weeks. With the availability of prevent vaccines chicken pox is less  of a threat these days although it has not been totally eradicated. Chicken pox happens once in a lifetime and seldom strikes againThe chicken pox infection spreads through contact with the respiratory droplets of an infected person, by the chicken pox virus, contact with the contents of the blisters or “pocks”, weak immunity etc. It is recognised by its red, itchy rash, blisters and other symptoms  are of a general nature –mild fever, headache, loss of appetite and so on.   It is believed that chicken pox heals itself over a few weeks and no special remedy is prescribed. There are home remedies, of course, mainly to relieve the itching. These include smearing honey, a baking soda and water combination or Vitamin E oil on the scabs.

Plague was one of the most dreaded diseases in the world with bubonic plague being the most common form. Bubonic plague came to be known as Black Death when, in the 14th century, it swept through Europe killing millions of people. India also suffered from an outbreak in 1994 after a plague-free period from 1966. A few areas of  Maharashtra and Gujarat were affected and the benefit from that was the stringent cleanliness rules that were put in place by the local administration which reduced the impact of the disease.Bubonic plague enters the human body through the skin after it is punctured by the bite of an infected flea that is normally found on rodents, mostly rats. The infection spreads through the lymphatics and results in swelling in the groin, armpits and the neck. Left untreated it kills the patient within a week. When the infection spreads into the lungs it results in pneumonic plague and when it infects the blood it produces septicemic plague.
The massive toll of human life taken by plague in the years gone by resulted from the absence of  a cure. Today, however, there are so many classes of antibiotics which provide total cure.

Cholera is a lethal disease which strikes in developing and poor countries where sanitation is deficient. Asia, Africa, South America are among the regions vulnerable to this disease. It affects the small intestine and a release of a large amount of water in the body results in persistent and watery diaorrhea. Prompt treatment is necessary without which the patient dehydrates fast and has no chance of survival.The cause of cholera infection is exposure to contaminated food or water or contact with an infected person. The symptoms are many and include persistent diaohrrea, abdominal cramps, excessive thirst, dry mouth, severe dehydration, lethargy, low urine output, sleepiness etc. Tests to establish the problem include stool and blood cultures.Immediate supplies of clean water and improvement of sanitation facilities are a must in case of an outbreak of cholera. Vaccines are available but these are not very effective to control an outbreak. The remedy is to replace lost  fluids and electrolytes through oral and intra-venous routes, WHO has also devised a sugar and electrolytes solution which is easier to administer. Antibiotics are also available to neutralise the infection.
Prevention is the effective answer and clean water and good sanitation are a must.