Assignment 1

Diphtheria (dif-THEER-e-uh) is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes
of your nose and throat.

Symptoms

Diphtheria signs and symptoms usually begin two to five days after a person becomes infected. Signs and
symptoms may include:

 A thick, gray membrane covering your throat and tonsils

 A sore throat and hoarseness

 Swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in your neck

 Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing

 Nasal discharge

 Fever and chills

 Tiredness
Causes

Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The bacterium usually multiplies on
or near the surface of the throat or skin. C. diphtheriae spreads through:

 Airborne droplets. When an infected person's sneeze or cough releases a mist of contaminated
droplets, people nearby may inhale C. diphtheriae. Diphtheria spreads easily this way, especially in
crowded conditions.

 Contaminated personal or household items. People sometimes catch diphtheria from handling an
infected person's things, such as used tissues or hand towels, that may be contaminated with the
bacteria.

Prevention
Before antibiotics were available, diphtheria was a common illness in young children. Today, the disease
is not only treatable but also preventable with a vaccine.

The diphtheria vaccine is usually combined with vaccines for tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis).
The three-in-one vaccine is known as the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine. The latest version of
this vaccine is known as the DTaP vaccine for children and the Tdap vaccine for adolescents and adults.

Signment 2

Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a serious infection caused by Clostridium tetani.

Most individuals with tetanus will also have the following symptoms:

 bloody stools

 diarrhea

 fever

 headache

 sensitivity to touch

 sore throat

 sweating

 rapid heartbeat

treatment

Any cut or wound must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent infection. A tetanus-prone wound should be
treated by a medical professional immediately.

A wound likely to develop tetanus is defined as:

 a wound or burn that requires surgical intervention that is delayed for over 6 hours
  a wound or burn that has a considerable amount of removed tissue

 any puncture-type injury that has been in contact with manure or soil

 serious fractures where the bone is exposed to infection, such as compound fractures

 wounds or burns in patients with systemic sepsis

causes

Tetanus is caused by the Clostridium tetaniTrusted Source bacterium.

Clostridium tetani spores are able to survive for a long time outside of the body. They are most
commonly found in animal manure and contaminated soil, but may exist virtually anywhere.

When Clostridium tetani enter the body, they multiply rapidly and release tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin.
When tetanospasmin enters the bloodstream, it rapidly spreads around the body, causing tetanus
symptoms

Prevention

Most cases of tetanus occur in people who have never had the vaccine or who did not have a booster shot
within the previous decade.

Vaccination

The tetanus vaccineTrusted Source is routinely given to children as part of the diphtheria and tetanus
toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) shot.

The DTaP vaccine consists of five shots, usually given in the arm or thigh of children when they are aged:

 2 months

 4 months
  6 months

 15 to 18 months

 4 to 6 years

Assignment 3
Polio is a life-threatening disease caused by a virus. It was once one of the most feared diseases in the United
States, but the creation of a vaccine in the 1950s ended the threat.

Polio Symptoms
Most people who catch the poliovirus don't have symptoms. About 1 in 4 people will have symptoms that look
a lot like the flu, such as:

 Sore throat
 Feeling tired
 Upset stomach
 Fever
 Headache
 Back or neck pain or stiffness
 Muscle weakness
 Stomach pain
 Vomiting

Polio Causes and Risk Factors

You get polio from a virus. You have to come in direct contact with the virus to get it. This can be person-to-
person contact, or through contact with an object that has the virus on it. When you have the virus, it lives in
your throat and intestine

Polio Treatment
If you have polio, your doctor will focus on making sure that you're comfortable and try to prevent any other
health issues. Some treatments and tools for support include:

 Pain relievers (like ibuprofen)

 A ventilator (a device that helps you breathe)
 Physical therapy that can help keep your muscles working
 Bed rest and fluids for flu-like symptoms
 Antispasmodic medications to relax muscles
 Antibiotics for urinary tract infections
Assignment 4
Measles causes a red, blotchy rash that usually appears first on the face and behind the ears, then spreads
downward to the chest and back and finally to the feet. Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus.
Once quite common, measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine.

Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Signs and
symptoms of measles typically include:

 Fever

 Dry cough

 Runny nose

 Sore throat

 Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)

 Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner
lining of the cheek — also called Koplik's spots

 A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another
Causes

Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an
infected child or adult. Then, when someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets
spray into the air, where other people can inhale them.

The infected droplets may also land on a surface, where they remain active and contagious for several
hours. You can contract the virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes after
touching the infected surface.

About 90% of susceptible people who are exposed to someone with the virus will be infected.

Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adults receive the measles
vaccine to prevent measles.

Measles vaccine in children

To prevent measles in children, doctors usually give infants the first dose of the vaccine between 12 and
15 months, with the second dose typically given between ages 4 and 6 years. Keep in mind:

 If you'll be traveling abroad when your child is 6 to 11 months old, talk with your child's doctor
about getting the measles vaccine earlier.

 If your child or teenager didn't get the two doses at the recommended times, he or she may need
two doses of the vaccine four weeks apart.
Preventing measles during an outbreak or known infection

If someone in your household has measles, take these precautions to protect vulnerable family and
friends:

 Isolation. Because measles is highly contagious from about four days before to four days after the
rash breaks out, people with measles shouldn't return to activities in which they interact with other
people during this period.

It may also be necessary to keep nonimmunized people — siblings, for example — away from the
infected person.

 Vaccinate. Be sure that anyone who's at risk of getting the measles who hasn't been fully
vaccinated receives the measles vaccine as soon as possible. This includes infants older than 6
months and anyone born in 1957 or later who doesn't have written documentation of being
vaccinated, or who doesn't have evidence of immunity or having had measles in the past.