Communicable Diseases Lecture Review

These question-and-answer flashcards cover the key infectious-disease concepts, organisms, signs, diagnostics, treatments, and control measures presented across the lecture notes.

When does the incubation period of a disease begin and end?

It begins upon exposure to the pathogen and ends with the appearance of the first signs or symptoms.

Tetanus

Involuntary spasm ( inducing bacterial infection )

Lock jaw

Tetanus also known as

3 days to 1month

Incubation period for tetanus

Rissus sardonicus

Pathognomonic sign for tetanus

Laryngospasm, Opisthotonus, spastic paralysis

Other pathognomonic sign for tetanus

Wound culture

Confirmatory sign for tetanus

Spatula test

Alternative test for tetanus

(+) gag reflex

Negative response (-) of spatula test

Bites the material

Positive response for spatula test

DPT/ Pentavalent (6-20-24 weeks)

Tetanus toxoid atleast 2 shots (no wound)

Tetanus anti-toxin - presence of wond

Vaccination for tetanus

What characterizes the prodromal period of a disease?

It starts with the first vague signs or symptoms and ends when more generalized, diagnosable signs and symptoms appear.

HydrogenPeroxide

Betadine thin dressing only

Wound care for tetanus

Non- stimulating environment (quiet, dim-lit, well-ventilated)

Nursing intervention for pt. With tetanus and to avoid seizure

(+)seizure

(+) Opisthotonus

Stay if seizure occurs

side lying or just add supporting layers like pillows

High Caloric diet

Diet for tetanus pt.

Metronidazole, alternative is tetracycline

Drug of choice for tetanus

Droplet

Mode of transmission of meningitis and rabies

During which stage of disease do pathognomonic signs peak?

The Illness phase.

Face mask and PPE

Control measures of meningitis

Remittent-fever

Onset of seizure

Altered respiratory

WOF danger signs for meningitis

VS

PERRLA

GCS

Frequent neurological checking in meningitis

Valsalva manuever

Bearing down

Carrying Heavy object

What to avoid in pt.with meningitis?

High fiber diet

Diet for pt with meningitis

First stage (Dog: Dumb, Human: Prodromal phase)

What stage in rabies infection when the dog show signs withdrawn and hiding. Human shows tingling sensation and photophobia

Second stage (Dog: Furious, Human: Excitement phase)

What stage in rabies infection when the dog show signs of fight &bite, hyper salvation and hydrophobia. Human shows laryngospasm, hydrophobia, aerophobia, and maniacal behavior.

Third stage (Human & Dog: Paralytic)

What stage in rabies infectionBoth human and dog experiences cardiopulmonary arrest

10 day observation of dog

Brain biopsy

Fluorescent rabies anti body

Diagnostic test for rabies

Wash with detergent soap with running water for 10-15 minutes

Bayabas as anti septic

Consult ABC

First aid for rabies

ERIG (EQUINE RABIES IMMUNOGLOBULIN)

HRIG (HUMAN RABIES IMMUNOGLOBULIN)

PVRV

VACCINES FOR RABIES

CATEGORY 2

WHAT CATEGORY WHEN BITTEN CHEST TO DOWN

CATEGORY 3

WHAT CATEGORY WHEN BITTEN NECT AND HEAD AND ALSO ANYWHERE BUT WITH OOZING WOUND

CATEGORY 1

WHAT CATEGORY HAS NO VISIBLE WOUND JUST REDDENED IN THE SKIN ONLY

Department of Agriculture

Responsible for dog vaccination

Away from the CR/sink

Where should position the pt infected with rabies

Cover IV lines

What to do when pt experiencing hydrophobia

Restraint

What to do when pt experiencing maniacal behavior rabies (+)

Legio debilitons

Causative agent for poliomyelitis

Abortive

Last 72 hours with fever and sore throat

Subclinical

Asyptomatic

Stool exam

Lumbar tap

Electro myelogram

Muscle grading

Diagnostic test for poliomyelitis

Bulbar

Brainstem

CN 9 and CN 10

Spinal paralytic

Spine (limbs, intercostal muscle)

Bulbospinal

Both spine and brain affected

OPV (oral)

IPV (IM)

Control measures for polio

Enteric precaution

Promptly isolating the patient in a single room with closed doors.

Using gloves and an apron for any procedure involving contact.

Handwashing is compulsory when any direct contact occurs with feces or vomitus. Using alcohol-hand rub alone is insufficient.

Bethanicol Chloride- prevents respiratory depression

Pleonaril - inhibits viral entry in CNS

Drug of choice for poliomyelitis

Do not massage only warm compress

Bet should not saggy and should be firm

Management for poliomyelitis

anesthesia

Skin discoloration

Anhidrosis- loss of sweat

Early manifestations of leprosy

Madarosis- falling of eyebrows

Lagopthalmus- inability to close eyes

Lion like appearance

Contractures

Wound does not heal

Gynecomastia- male big chest

6months - 8 yeaars

Incubation period of leprosy

Dog Vaccination

Pet ownership responsibility

Dog bite victim management

Control measures for rabies

Which stage of disease involves gradual disappearance of signs and symptoms and recovery?

The Convalescence stage.

Slit skin smear

Confirmatory test for leprosy

CRT ( lepromin reaction test )

Test for communicability in leprosy (8-10 days result to wait)

Droplet and contact-prolonged exposue

MODE OF TRANSMISSION OF LEPROSY

POSITIVE IN LRT WITH RASHES

NON-COMMUNICABLE FOR LEPROSY

NEGATIVE IN LRT WITH NO RASHES

VERY COMMUNICBLE FOR LEPROSY

BCG

Vaccine for Leprosy

Rifampicin

Ofloxacin

Minocycline

Prophylaxis for leprosy

What is the defervescence period?

A stage where complications may set in and can lead to death if not managed.

What bacterium causes tetanus (lockjaw)?

Clostridium tetani.

What is the incubation period for tetanus?

Approximately 3 days to 1 month.

How does tetanus usually enter the body?

Through entry of spores into broken or intact skin, activating once the wound is closed and anaerobic.

Drug of choice for treating tetanus?

Metronidazole (avoid alcohol during therapy).

What is meningitis?

Inflammation of the meninges, also called cerebro-spinal fever.

Causative agent of bacterial meningitis highlighted in lecture?

Neisseria meningitidis.

Incubation period for meningococcal meningitis?

2–10 days.

Mode of transmission for meningococcal meningitis?

Droplet spread.

Pathognomonic sign of meningitis

Nuchal rigidity (stiff neck).

Two classic physical signs used to screen for meningeal irritation

Brudzinski’s sign (neck flex → hip/knee flex) and Kernig’s sign (inability to fully extend knee with hip flexed).

Preferred diagnostic test for meningitis and its expected finding in bacterial cases

Lumbar puncture; cloudy/turbid cerebrospinal fluid.

Why should MRI be done before lumbar tap in suspected meningitis?

To rule out markedly raised intracranial pressure, which is a contraindication to lumbar puncture.

First-line antibiotics for bacterial meningitis

Penicillin G, a cephalosporin, or chloramphenicol.

Prophylactic drug for close contacts of meningococcal cases

Rifampicin.

Preferred patient position in acute meningitis to ease breathing and ICP

Semi-Fowlers with a non-stimulating environment.

What viral infection causes rabies and what is its other name?

Rhabdovirus infection, also called hydrophobia, la rage, or lyssa.

Incubation period for rabies in humans

About 2–8 weeks (variable).

Primary mode of rabies transmission

Saliva droplets via animal bite or lick on broken skin.

Two epidemiologic categories of rabies

Canine (domestic dogs) and sylvatic (wild animals).

Three clinical stages of rabies in humans

Prodromal, Excitement (furious), Paralytic.

Classic diagnostic finding on brain biopsy in rabies

Negri bodies.

First-aid management of an animal bite

Wash with detergent/antibacterial soap under running water for 10–15 minutes, then seek care at an Animal Bite Center.

Name the equine and human preparations for passive rabies immunization

ERIG (Equine Rabies Immunoglobulin) and HRIG (Human Rabies Immunoglobulin).

Poliomyelitis is also known as and causes what type of paralysis?

Heine-Medin disease or infantile paralysis; causes flaccid paralysis.

Mode of transmission of poliovirus

Fecal-oral route.

Incubation period of poliomyelitis

7–21 days.

Difference between minor and major forms of polio

Minor (subclinical or abortive) has mild or no paralysis; Major forms include non-paralytic and paralytic manifestations.

Tripod position and Hoyne sign indicate which form of polio?

Non-paralytic or early paralytic polio with meningeal irritation.

Which cranial nerve involvement in bulbar polio threatens cardiopulmonary function?

Cranial nerve X (vagus nerve).

Essential isolation precaution for hospitalized polio patients

Single-room isolation with closed doors; gloves/apron for contact; strict handwashing (alcohol rub alone insufficient).

Confirmatory test for leprosy (Hansen’s disease)

Slit-skin smear.

BCG vaccine provides some protection against which two diseases?

Tuberculosis and leprosy.

Standard multi-drug regimen for leprosy includes which three drugs?

Rifampicin, Dapsone, and Clofazimine.

Tuberculosis is also called Koch’s infection; name its primary causative organism

Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Most sensitive confirmatory laboratory test for TB cited in notes

GeneXpert (CB-NAAT).

Interpretation of Mantoux test: induration ≥10 mm suggests what?

TB exposure in the general population (≥5 mm for immunocompromised).

What first-line TB drug can cause red-orange body secretions?

Rifampicin.

Which TB drug’s major side effect is peripheral neuritis, and how is it prevented?

Isoniazid; prevented with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplementation.

Define DOTS in TB control

Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course—patient takes drugs under supervision.