Actinomycosis Symptoms

Actinomycosis is a chronic contagious disease caused mainly by Actinomyces israelii which normally are found on gums, teeth and amygdalas. The infection is followed with abscess development.

The disease shows with four different forms and usually affects males. Actinomycosis sometimes occurs in females who use intrauterine device for contraception.

Symptoms
Abdominal form is caused by entering mouth emissions (infected with bacteria) into bowels. The infection damages bowels and abdominal membrane. Most common symptoms are pain, temperature increase, vomit, diarrhea and uncleared bowels, weight lowering. In abdominal cavity is formed a node  and white matter may go out on skin via canals linking it with abdominal wall.

Cervical gnathic form usually starts with appearing of small, plain and steady node in mouth, on neck skin and below jaw. Inflation is sometimes followed with pain. Then node softens and liquid releases, it may contain small yellow flecks. The infection may spread to cheek, tongue, throat, salivary glands, cranial bones or brain.

Chest form is followed with pains in chest, body temperature increase and wet cough. While lungs are damaged insufficiently, these symptoms do not show. In some cases chest wall may perforate and white matter may go out via cracks.
In generalized form the infection damages skin, spine, brain, liver, kidneys, ureter, and in females – alvus and ovaries.

What Are Abscess Symptoms

Abscess is gathering of white matter due to development of bacterial infection. The bacteria get into healthy tissue and thus infection is developed in particular area. Some cells get damaged and on those spots is accumulated liquid along with infected cells.

To those spots are navigated leucocites (body protectors against infections) which die after they catch bacteria. Gathering of dead leucocites do form white matter that fills damaged area. While white matter accumulates, the healthy tissue moves away.

Gradually around abscess is formed connective tissue and walls around abscess – in this way body prevents further microorganisms spreading. When occurs rupture of abscess, the pathogens may get into the body or under the skin depending on abscess localization.  Abscess may be developed in any organs including lungs, mouth, rectum and muscles. Frequently they occur on the skin, especially on the face.

Abscess symptoms
Symptoms of abscess are detemined by the spot of its location and dysfunction of organ or nerve in abscess area. Symptoms may include pain, painful palpation, local skin temperature increase, intumescence, redding and sometimes increase of body temperature. Abscess that is formed under skin usually looks like intumescence.

Before opening, it becomes white in central part because skin around it gets thin. When abscess is developed deep in the body then for the symptoms appaering it must have significant size. Unobserved deep abscess often is source of infection spreading through the whole body.  

Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is an acute contagious disease associated with bacteria of the genius Salmonella. The agent can be kept in the ground and in the water from 1 to 15 months. It dies when healed and under the action of the usual detergents.

The only source of incidence is infected person and the carrier. The rods of Typhoid fever are transmitted directly by dirty hands, flies, waste waters. Most dangerous are outbreaks connected with taking infected foods (milk, cold meat, etc).

Symptoms and course
Incubation period lasts from 1 to 3 weeks. In typical cases the Typhoid fever starts gradually. The diseased experience such symptoms as weakness, rapid fatigability, moderate headache. In the next days those symptoms do increase, the temperature of the body raises up to 39-40 "С, appetite do lowers or totally disappears, the sleep is interrupted (sleepiness by day and insomnia by night). Also patient can have stool retention and windiness. Till 7-9 day of the disease rush may appear on the upper parts of abdomen skin or on lower parts of the chest. The rush is represented by small red spots with sharp edge having diameter 23mm rising over skin surface and are called roseolas. A new roseola may appear in the place where a roseola disappeared.

The next symptoms are common for patients: restraint, face paleness, decrease in heart rate, lower blood pressure. Also may appear specific bronchitis. The tongue  may be dry and cracky, covered with muddy brown fur, edges and tip of the tongue having no fur. Also may appear rude curmurring of the intestinum cecum and pain of right iliac region, liver and spleen may get increased. The number of leukocytes in peripheral blood is lowered.

To recognize the Typhoid fever is very important to detect early symptoms such as high body temperature lasting more than one week, headache, lowering of physical activity, breakdown, sleeping disorders, appetite disorders, specific rush, sensitivity during palpation of the right part of the abdomen, the increase of the liver and spleen. In laboratory are used next analysis for diagnosis updating: immunofluorescence method and serologic testing.  

Treatment
For the treatment is used antimicrobial agent called laevomycetin which is prescribed 0,5-0,75gr 4 times per day for 10-12 days. Intravenous is injected 5% glucose solution or normal saline 500-1000gr. In severe cases are injected corticosteroids. Patients should remain at bed rest minimum 7-10 days.

Preventive Measures
1. sanitary inspection of food processors, water systems, canalization
2. early detection of patients and their isolation
3. disinfection of rooms, clothes, utensils
4. fight with flies
5. after disease dispensary observation
6. specific vaccination

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is an contagiuos disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella. The bacteria is passed among animals, and it causes disease in many different vertebrates. Different Brucella species affect sheep, goats, cattle, deer, elk, pigs, dogs. Humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with these bacteria. In humans brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms that are similar to the flu and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, physical weakness. Severe infections of the central nervous systems or lining of the heart may occur.

All people, regardless of risk status, should be monitored for the development of symptoms. From the last exposure, temperature should be actively monitored for fever for four weeks. Broader symptoms of brucellosis should be passively monitored for six months from the last exposure.

These symptoms include:
 * Acutely: fever, chills, headache, low back pain, joint pain, malaise, occasionally diarrhea
 * Sub-acutely: malaise, muscle pain, headache, neck pain, fever, sweats
 * Chronically: anorexia, weight loss, abdominal pain, joint pain, headache, backache, weakness, irritability, insomnia, depression, constipation.

Humans are infected in one of three ways:
1. eating or drinking something that is contaminated with Brucella
2. breathing in the organism
3. having the bacteria enter the body through skin wounds

The most common way to be infected is by eating or drinking contaminated milk products. When sheep, goats, cows, camels are infected, their milk is contaminated with the bacteria. If the milk is not pasteurized, these bacteria can be transmitted to persons who drink the milk or eat cheeses made it. Inhalation of Brucella organisms is not a common route of infection, but it can be a significant hazard for people working in laboratories where the organism is cultured. Inhalation is often responsible for a significant percentage of cases in abattoir employees. Contamination of skin wounds may be a problem for people working in slaughterhouses or meat packing plants or for veterinarians.

Direct person-to-person spread of brucellosis is rare. Mothers who are breast-feeding may transmit the infection to their babes. Sexual transmission has also been reported. For both sexual and breast-feeding transmission, if the baby or person at risk is treated for brucellosis, their risk of becoming infected will be eliminated within three days. Transmission may also occur via contaminated tissue transplantation.

Preventive Measures
Do not consume unpasteurized milk, cheese, ice cream while traveling. If you are not sure that the dairy product is pasteurized, don't eat it. Hunters should use rubber gloves when handling viscera of animals. There is no vaccine available for humans.

Treatment
The treatment can be difficult. Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics. Doxycycline and rifampin are used in combination for 6 weeks to prevent reoccuring infection. Depending on the timing of treatment and severity of illness, recovery may take a few weeks to several months. Mortality is low and is associated with endocarditis.