Smallpox

Smallpox is caused by the virus variola that can only be acquired through person to person. This disease only affects the humans because the virus will start form the lungs to progress. The particle of the virus remains in the clothing and linens within one or more week. The virus will attack the bloodstream then the other major organs like the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, the skin and the brain. The cases of variola is already wipe out or not common ever since the year 2002 because of many prophylaxis available but way back then this is a very deadly disease because it causes the respiratory tract to collapse.

The major signs and symptoms of smallpox are fever, headache, chills, body aches, backaches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and rashes. The characteristics of rashes are fluid pus that will turn into scabs after two weeks. Therefore, the stage of communicability is within two weeks and the person infected of small pox needs to be isolated to avoid infecting others. The rashes or lesions when first seen this is misdiagnose with chicken pox. After two weeks, the scabs will fall off but this usually takes two to four weeks.

To diagnose variola, throat swab is performed then another one is culture and sensitivity test. If the client will be positive after the two diagnoses, the public health needs to be notified because of possible contact tracing to solve the problem and prevent epidemic.

For the treatment, it is more on hospital initiated because of the several policies that must be following. Once the person is positive for smallpox, it will eventually be an isolation technique for seventeen days and as long as the person is not totally treated. Fluid replacement therapy is initiated to prevent dehydration and avoid skin breakdown. Antibiotics are also part of the therapy to eradicate and kill the pathogens. Antipyretics are given to treat the fever, and vaccinations for post exposure of smallpox.

If smallpox is not given a treatment as early as possible many complications may arise. This are blindness, osteomyelitis, arthritis and other infections and can even lead to death. The only prevention for this disease is vaccination because this is a live attenuated vaccine. Handwashing and avoid shaking hands is well implemented to decrease the cases.

For severe cases of smallpox the chance of survival is high as long as the immune system is not depleted and to make this strong observe a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. Observe for the appearance and color of rashes once it ruptures. Take note also the occurrence each day. Avoid scratching and scrubbing the scabs. Tell pregnant mothers especially during the first trimester of fetal development to isolate them to protect the embryo and avoid malformations.