- 11/02/2013
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
Humans are vulnerable to the development of various diseases, which primary causes are various bacteria. At first glance, tiny substances, which seem to have no threat to humans, can lead to lethal outcomes of diseases provoked by bacteria. In such a context, it is hardly possible to underestimate the danger of bacteria and diseases provoked by bacteria. At the same time, in the course of the development of the modern medicine, health care professionals have elaborated numerous and quite effective methods of the prevention and treatment of diseases provoked by bacteria. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that many diseases used to be incurable in the past and, today, they are treated successfully or prevented due to the use of the advancements of the modern medicine. On the other hand, there are still numerous diseases which cannot always be cured effectively, especially if they are diagnosed at late stages of their development. Moreover, a considerable part of the population of the world does not have access to health care services of the high quality or even to the elementary health care services. As a result, many people are still vulnerable to the development of such diseases as bacterial meningitis, Hansen’s disease, Botulism and Tetnus, which expose humans to a great danger and they may lead to lethal outcomes without the proper treatment and provision of essential health care services in time.
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is one of the most dangerous bacterial diseases which are caused by bacteria, while the outcomes of the disease may lead to irrevocable changes in human body and brain, whereas, in the most severe cases, meningitis may lead to the death of a patient. Basically, meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain (Maton, et al., 213). Often, children are vulnerable to the development of meningitis, which may be a derivative or complication of other health problems, such as influenza. At the same time, it is possible to distinguish two major causes of meningitis. First, meningitis may be viral, i.e. the disease is caused by a virus. This type of virus is more common than bacterial and this type of meningitis is spread between people through coughing and sneezing. Remarkably, this type of meningitis cannot be helped by antibiotics but still the disease is curable and patients may recover totally, although they may suffer from persisting headaches, fatigue and depression.
Another cause of meningitis is rarer and this is bacterial meningitis. This type of meningitis is fatal (Hickman, et al., 114). The bacterial meningitis is provoked by bacteria of different types. Specialists (Hickman, et al., 115) single out three major bacteria causing meningitis. First, meningitis may be provoked by Meningococcus. Meningococcus is found in the nasopharynx of about 5 percent of the population and is spread by respiratory droplets and close contact (Hickman, et al., 115). Second, meningitis may be caused by Haemophilus influenza. Haemophilus influenzae type b accounts for most meningitis in children older than 1 month, but usually not in adults unless there is a predisposing factor such as head trauma or a compromised immune system (Hickman, et al., 118). Finally, bacterial meningitis may be also caused by Pneumococcus, which is the most common cause of adult meningitis (Hickman, et al., 119).
The early diagnosis of meningitis is very important because it provides health care professionals with the possibility to facilitate the recovery of patients and prevent the development of negative effects of meningitis. Health care professionals distinguish the following symptoms of meningitis, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently: 1) fever; 2) headache; 3)nausea and vomiting; 4)stiff neck; 5)photophobia (low tolerance to bright light); 6) confusion; 7) joint aches or pains; 8)drowsiness; 9)seizures (Hickman, et al., 125).
The treatment of bacterial meningitis normally involves the use of antibiotics which kill bacteria and prevent the spread of infection in human body, although antibiotics do not work in case of viral meningitis. In addition to medicaments, patients need bed rest and supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation, especially if patients have difficulties with breathing (Maton, et al., 281).
The prevention of meningitis is mainly based on the vaccination, which has proved its effectiveness as a preventive measure that can stop the spread and development of meningitis. Today, haemophilius influenza type b vaccine, pneumococcal vaccines, and PCV7 are used as vaccinations to prevent the development of meningitis.
Hansen’s Disease
Another serious disease that is provoked by bacteria is Hansen’s disease. Hansen’s disease, commonly referred to as leprosy, is a chronic infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium leprae bacteria (Hickman, et al., 172). For a long time, Hansen’s disease was incurable and patients with this disease were doomed to slow and painful death because there were no effective treatments or methods of prevention of the development of the disease. As a result, patients suffering from Hansen’s disease became outcasts and the changes that occurred to human body in the course of the development of the disease were major causes of exclusion of people with leprosy.
This disease can cause severe deformity of the feet, hands and face. The bacteria that cause leprosy thrive in cool areas of the body such as the skin, nerves near the skin surface and in oral and nasal mucus membranes. The infection leads to a loss of sensation in the affected areas (Hickman, et al., 181). Today, Hansen’s disease is treated successfully, although the early diagnosing of the disease is very important because it influences the overall success of the treatment. At the same time, patients with Hansen’s disease still suffer from steadily deterioration of their health and they need the regular supervision from the part of health care professionals to prevent the development of the disease. The treatment of Hansen’s disease is grounded on the medication. Today, specialists recommend using multi-drug treatment, which was originally devised, combining dapsone with clofazimine and rifampin (Hickman, et al., 184). The combination of the aforementioned drugs proved to be quite effective in the treatment of the disease. The prevention of Hansen’s disease is quite limited and, as a rule, the main prevention method is the treatment of people who had contacts with patients with Hansen’s disease.
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