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List of nine important viral diseases seen in humans: 1. Chickenpox 2. Smallpox 3. Poliomyelitis 4. Measles 5. Mumps 6. Rabies 7. Trachoma 8. Influenza 9. Hepatitis.
Viral Disease # 1. Chickenpox (Varicella):
Pathogen – Herpes-zoster virus (DNA- virus)
Epidemiology – Contagious & Formite borne
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Incubation Period – 12-20 days
Symptoms – Dark red coloured rash or pox changing into vesicles, crusts and falling.
Prophylaxis – Now vaccine available, isolation.
Therapy – Zoster Immunoglobulins (ZIG).
Viral Disease # 2. Smallpox (Variolla):
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Pathogen – Variola-virus (DNA-Virus)
Epidemiology – Contagious & Droplet infection
Incubation Period – 12-days
Symptoms – Appearance of rash changing into pustules, scabs and falling.
Prophylaxis – Smallpox vaccine.
Therapy – No case reported after 1978.
Viral Disease # 3. Poliomyelitis:
Pathogen – Polio-virus (RNA-virus)
Epidemiology – Direct & oral
Incubation Period – 7-14 days
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Symptoms – Damages motor neurons causing stiffness of neck, convulsion, paralysis of generally legs.
Prophylaxis – ‘Salk’ vaccine and Oral Polio vaccine.
Therapy – Physiotherapy.
Viral Disease # 4. Measles (Rubeolla-Disease):
Pathogen – Rubeolla-virus (RNA-virus)
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Epidemiology – Contagious & Droplet infection
Incubation Period – 10 days
Symptoms – Rubeolla (skin eruptions), coughing, sneezing etc.
Prophylaxis – Edmonston- B-vaccine, isolation
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Therapy – Antibiotics & sulpha drugs.
Viral Disease # 5. Mumps:
Pathogen – Mumps-virus (RNA-virus)
Epidemiology – Contagious & Droplet infection
Incubation Period – 12-26 days
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Symptoms – Painful enlargement of parotid salivary glands.
Prophylaxis – Mumps- vaccine isolation
Therapy – Antibiotics.
Viral Disease # 6. Rabies (Hydrophobia):
Pathogen – Rabies-virus (RNA-virus)
Epidemiology – Indirect & inoculative (vectors are rabid animals monkeys, cats, dogs)
Incubation Period – 10 days to 1- 3 months
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Symptoms – Spasm of throat & chest muscles, fears from water, paralysis and death.
Prophylaxis – Immunization of dogs.
Therapy – Pasteur- treatment (14 vaccines in stomach).
Viral Disease # 7. Trachoma:
Pathogen – Chlamydia trachomatis
Epidemiology – Contagious, formite-borne and flies (vectors)
Incubation Period – 5-12 days
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Symptoms – Inflammation of conjunctiva & cornea leading to blindness.
Prophylaxis – Isolation
Therapy – Tetracycline & sulfonamide.
Viral Disease # 8. Influenza (Flu):
Pathogen – Myxovirus influenzae (RNA-virus)
Epidemiology – Air borne and pandemic
Incubation Period – 24-48 Hours Lasts for 4-5 days
Symptoms – Bronchitis, sneezing bronchopneumonia, leucopenia, coughing, etc.
Prophylaxis – Isolation.
Therapy – Antibiotic therapy.
Viral Disease # 9. Hepatitis (Epidemic Jaundice):
Pathogen – Hepatitis-B virus
Epidemiology – Direct & oral (with food and water)
Incubation Period – 20-35 days
Symptoms – Damage to liver cells releasing bilirubin which causes jaundice.
Prophylaxis – Proper sanitation proper coverage of food, water, milk etc. use of chlorinated or boiled water, etc.
Therapy – Hepatitis-B vaccine.
