“The Worst” Flashcards
1
Q
Bubonic Plague/“Black Death”
A
- Largest outbreak began in the early 1300’s in China.
- Infected Italian merchants returned to Sicily and started the spread across Europe
~ Between 1347 and 1352 one third of
the population (25 million) died across
Europe.
2
Q
Bubonic Plague/“Black Death”: Cause
A
- Bacterial Infection
~ Yersinia pestis
> Normally and still is found in wild
rodents:
• Rats
• Squirrels
• Prairie Dogs
3
Q
Bubonic Plague/“Black Death”: Transmission
A
- Outbreaks are common in crowded unsanitary conditions.
~ Transmitted when infected rodents
die and fleas feed on humans
~ Can also be transmitted in respiratory
secretions of infected persons
4
Q
Bubonic Plague/“Black Death”: Results
A
- After inoculation Y. pestis travels through the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
~ Causes inflammation/death of lymph
nodes
> Infected nodes swell with pus
forming “buboes”
> Especially in the groin.
~ Causes inflammation/death of lung
tissue
~ Infected persons often develop
necrotic (black) skin lesions
5
Q
Bubonic Plague/“Black Death”: S&S and Treatment
A
- Signs/Symptoms
~ Headache
~ Fever
~ Myalgia
~ Dyspnea
~ Cough
~ S/S of Shock (Septic Shock)
> Body as a whole mounts
inflammatory response causing
major vasodilation. - Treatment
~ High mortality rate (50-75%) if
untreated
~ Antibiotics
6
Q
Malaria
A
- Mostly non-existent in developed countries.
~ Infects 200 million per year.
~ Kills 1 million per year. - Common in countries south of the equator (warm)
7
Q
Malaria: Cause
A
- Protozol Infection
~ Four different types of Plasmodium
protozoa can cause Malaria.
~ All have the same effects.
8
Q
Malaria: Transmission
A
- Mosquito
- Plasmodium life cycle requires time in both humans and mosquitoes
9
Q
Malaria: S&S
A
- Red blood cells are the principal sites of infection in malaria.
- Most S/S are primarily due to the involvement of red blood cells.
- S&S
~ Fever/Chills - Ruptured RBC release
pyrogens simulating PGE2 production.
~ Splenomegaly/Hepatomegaly - Active
in removing RBC debris.
~ Renal Failure - Parasitized RBCs
adhere to renal capillary endothelium.
~ Dyspnea - RBCs adhere to alveolar
capillary endothelium.
~ Pallor/Weakness - Anemia
10
Q
Poliomyelitis: Cause
A
- Viral Infection
~ Poliovirus - Widespread problem until development of vaccine in the mid 20th century.
~ Vaccine developed by Jonas Salk
11
Q
Poliomyelitis: Transmission
A
- Oral - Fecal
- Spreads rapidly among children in close quarters.
- Begins as a GI tract infection and can eventually infects the gray matter of the spinal cord.
~ Infection can occur anywhere, but
typically infects the anterior horn of
the cord interfering w/ motor
impulses
12
Q
Poliomyelitis: S&S
A
- Poliovirus infection results in cell death and inflammation.
- S&S
~ Initially non specific symptoms:
> Fever
> Malaise
> НА
~ May later show S/S of meningitis.
~ Paralysis
13
Q
Poliomyelitis: Management
A
- Treat symptoms
~ Improvements begins within 1 week - Rehab during and after to prevent deformity and enhance function
14
Q
Smallpox: Cause
A
- Viral Infection
~ Variola Virus
> Virus named for the disease
presentation and the latin word
varius - spot or pimple.
15
Q
Smallpox: Transmission
A
- Via saliva droplets or aerosolized saliva.
~ Virus is very hardy and retains
infectivity for long periods outside
the body. - Widespread until 1967 when WHO acted to eradicate the disease.
