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Anthrax is an acute disease in animals which can be secondarily transmitted to humans. Anthrax is caused by the gram-positive, aerobic spore-forming bacteria, Bacillus anthracis. The disease is marked by effusions of blood and fluids in various organs and body cavities and
by symptoms of extreme prostration (severe exhaustion and lack of energy or power). Animal anthrax primarily affects herbivores. Human anthrax usually results from cutaneous infection human anthrax results from ingestion or inhalation of the spores from contaminated animal products. Anthrax is considered a pathogen which can be relatively easily and widely viable for decades. Other Names: - Woolsorters Disease -
caused by the handling of infected animal hides, hair, fur, bone, or wool. In rare circumstances,
distributed and is a potential agent of biological warfare. The spores can remain dormant but
- Ragsorters Disease Causative Agent: - Bacillus Anthracis Signs and Symptoms: - There are actually 4 forms of anthrax: Cutaneous, Intestinal, Pulmonary (Inhalatory Anthrax), Cerebral. 1. Cutaneous anthrax. This form of anthrax is severe and is most common. Cutaneous
Woolsorters Pneumonia
anthrax causes lesions, which presents first as an itchy papule that resembles an insect
bite. The papule becomes a hemorrhagic vesicle (a blister) which bursts and discharges a bloody serum. Within 36 hours, the blister forms a hard but painless, blue-black leathery scab of necrotic tissue, usually 1-3 cm in diameter. The absence of pain is characteristic
of anthrax lesions. Lymph glands close to the wound might swell. Constitutional symptoms are: high fever, vomiting, profuse sweating, and extreme loss of strength and exhaustion. 2. Intestinal anthrax. Patients present first with chill, high fever and with pain in the head, blood, bloody diarrhea, and prostration. Often, mucous membranes and the skin will hemorrhage. Intestinal anthrax results in death 25% to 60% of the time.
back and abdomen, and extremities. Additional initial symptoms include vomiting, vomiting
3. Pulmonary anthrax. Usually caused by the inhalation of dust containing the anthrax spores. Patients present initially with symptoms similar to the common cold. These rapid breathing and rapid pulse, shortness of breath, cough, vomiting, and extreme symptoms include or progress to: initial chill, followed by pain in the back and legs, fever,
prostration. Pulmonary anthrax usually results in death 1-2 days after the onset of acute symptoms. 4. Cerebral anthrax. Cerebral anthrax is a secondary result of intestinal or pulmonary Patients with cerebral anthrax present with the symptoms of pulmonary or intestinal
anthrax, and it occurs when the anthrax bacilli also invade the capillaries of the brain. anthrax, but also experience violent delerium which is often associated with hemorrhagic meningitis.
Incubation: - Mostly incubation period of Anthrax lasts from 1 to 7 days, although incubation periods up to 60 days are possible. Symptoms depend on how the infection was acquired.
Mode of Transmission: - Cutaneous infection is by contact with tissues of animals (cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs by contact with contaminated hair, wool, hides or products made from them, such as drums,
and others) dying of the disease; possibly by biting flies that had partially fed on such animals; brushes or rugs; or by contact with soil associated with infected animals or contaminated bone meal used in gardening. Inhalation anthrax results from inhalation of spores in risky industrial processes -- such as tanning hides and processing wool or bone -- where particles of B.anthracis spores may be produced. Intestinal and oropharyngeal anthrax arise from ingestion of contaminated undercooked meat; there is noevidence that milk from infected soil and feed; among omnivorous and carnivorous animals through contaminated meat, Accidental infections may occur among laboratory workers. animals transmits anthrax. The disease spreads among grazing animals through contaminated bone meal or other feeds; and among wildlife from feeding on carcasses infected with anthrax.
Nursing Management: 1. Monitor vital signs and hemodynamic parameters closely for circulatory collapse. 2. Monitor temperature for response to antibiotic therapy. 3. Auscultate chest for crackles, indicating need for better secretion mobilization. acid-base balance.
4. Monitor oxygen saturation and arterial blood gases periodically to determine oxygenation status and 5. Monitor level of consciousness and for meningeal signs such as nuchial rigidity. 6. Provide supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation, as needed. 7. Position for maximum chest expansion and reposition frequently to mobilize secretions.
8. Suction frequently and provide chest physiotherapy to clear airways, prevent atelectasis (Lung 9. Administer I.V. fluids to encourage oral fluid intake to replace the fluid lost through hyperthermia and 10. For G.I. anthrax, maintain G.I decompression, monitor emesis and liquid stool output, and medicate 11. Advice the patient and family that anthrax is not transmitted person to person; one must come in contact with the spores to contact infection. for abdominal pain, as needed. tachypnea. Collapse), and maximize oxygen therapy.
Laboratory Results: - Anthrax serology test; Antibody test for anthrax; Serologic test for B. Anthracis (Diagnostic Procedures for Anthrax). These tests are usually required when you are suspected of having Anthrax; it is done by drawing blood samples and checking for antibodies against B. Anthracis.
Normal Result: -
A normal result means no antibodies to the anthrax bacteria were seen in your blood sample. However, during the early stages of infection, your body may only produce a few antibodies, which the blood test may miss. The test may need to be repeated in 10 days - 2 weeks.
Abnormal Result: -
An abnormal result means antibodies to B. anthracis have been detected and you may have the disease.
anthrax disease. However, some people come in contact with the bacteria and do not develop To determine if you have a current infection, your health care provider will look for an increase in the antibody count after a few weeks.
Medical Treatment: Primarily high-dose penicillin and isolation. Other treatments and antibiotics include:
erythromycin, and tetracycline. Prophylactic tetracycline has been used for some exposed
populations. However, although antibiotics kill the anthrax bacteria, by the time characteristic of toxin produced by these bacteria circulates throughout the bloodstream and cannot be eliminated by killing the bacteria. Antibiotics do not affect the circulating toxin.
symptoms appear, the bacteria are multiplying wildly in the bloodstream. The massive amount
Prevention and Control: - Prevention of naturally-occurring anthrax in humans is primarily dependent on the control of the disease in animals, especially livestock. Animal vaccination is the major means of preventing impractical. Annual vaccination of livestock in areas with enzootic anthrax is recommended. To lower your risk of getting anthrax from a natural source: naturally-occurring epizootics of anthrax, since widespread decontamination of infected soil is
1. Do not eat meat that has not been properly slaughtered and cooked.
2. Do not work with raw animal hides, fur or skin, especially those of goats, sheep, or cows. To lower your risk of getting anthrax if terrorists release spores on purpose:
1. If you were exposed to a suspicious substance or if you were in an area thought to contain
anthrax spores, it may help to wash your skin and hair thoroughly with soap and water. It may them in a plastic bag to keep them separate from your other things. In such an emergency, SFDPH will provide specific instructions.
also help to change and wash your clothing, or if you cannot wash your clothes immediately, put
Epidemic Parotitis, Viral Parotitis Mumps is an infectious disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by droplets of mucus or family, the same family that includes the measles virus.
Causative Agent:
saliva from an infected person. The virus that causes mumps is a member of the paramyxovirus
Fever
Headache Tiredness
Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears or jaw on one or both sides of the face
Incubation Period: The time between being exposed to the virus and getting sick (incubation period) is usually 12 24 days.
Mode of Transmission:
Mumps is spread by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person, usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks. Items used by an infected person, such as cups or soft drink cans, can also be contaminated with the virus, which may spread to touches items or surfaces without washing their hands and someone else then touches the salivary glands begin to swell and within the 5 days after the swelling begins.
others if those items are shared. In addition, the virus may spread when someone with mumps same surface and rubs their mouth or nose. Most mumps transmission likely occurs before the
Nursing Management: - Reduce or alleviate the symptoms caused by the disease, since MUMPS resolves on its own without any need for specific treatment. spread of infection. Provide patient with the right information about the disease and how it is transmitted to avoid Teaching client with proper diet such as soft foods and avoiding acidic foods such as orange juice can help cope with symptom.
Laboratory Results: - No testing is usually required for MUMPS but a Physical exam could already confirm presence of the swollen gland.
Medical Treatment: - As said above MUMPS resolve on its own but one can help alleviate symptoms such as acetaminophen for fever and pain.
You can also relieve symptoms with: Extra fluids Soft foods Warm salt water gargles
The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is the best way to prevent mumps. The MMR vaccine should be routinely given when children are 12-15 months old, and a second dose should be given when they are 4-6 years old. Two doses of the vaccine are more effective against mumps than one dose and prevent most, but not all, cases of mumps and mumps complications.