Tag: infectious diseases

Sir Ronald Ross was a British medical doctor who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1902 for his work on the transmission of malaria.  While dissecting the stomach tissue of an Anopheles mosquito fed four days previously on a malaria patient, he found the oocysts (a cyst containing a zygote formed by the malaria parasite) and went on to prove the role of Anopheles mosquitoes in the transmission of malaria parasites in humans. 

Cholera is caused by cholera toxin released by Vibrio cholerae. The symptoms include severe diarrhoea, vomitting, watery stools. All these result in the dehydration. The cholera toxin activates adenylate cyclase enzyme. This results in the continuous secretion of Cl$^−$, HCO$^{−3}$ and water in the intestine. In saline drip, Na$^+$ ions helps in maintaining the sodium-potassium pump and thus retention of water. Saline drip also provides glucose which will give energy. Hence, patients suffering from cholera are given a saline drip because Na$^+$  ions help in the retention of water in the body tissues.

Explanation: The most prominent symptom of cholera is profuse, watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death.

Explanation: Cholera is spread through intake of contaminated water or food in places that lack adequate sanitation facilities.

Explanation: The stool of a cholera patient resembles rice water and has a typical fishy odor.

Explanation: Oral cholera vaccines provide only short-term immunity, which lasts for around 2 to 3 years.

Gonorrhea is caused by a Diplococcus bacterium. The victim feels a burning sensation during urination. The incubation period is around 25 days. 

 HIV is a retrovirus that primarily infects components of the human immune system such as CD4⁺ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cell. It, directly and indirectly, destroys CD4⁺ T cells.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by HIV in which a person's immunity is badly damaged such that any disease may effect his or her health adversely resulting in appreciable effect on the overall  life expectancy of that person.

AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is an infection which is caused by Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The causative agent of the disease is a virus and so the disease can spread from one person to the other by sexual contact. The disease alsoe spreads through the use of teh infected needles, syringes and blood transfusion from the infected person.