NUTRITION THERAPY FOR FEBRILE CONDITIONS AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Fever

Medically termed as pyrexia, is a rise in the body temperature above normal 98.6 F. It is generally a symptom of infections and signifies that heat production exceeds heat loss in the body. Sepsis occurs when infection has spread from one part of the body to other areas via the circulatory system.

Infection

It is the result of successful invasion, establishment, and growth of pathogenic microorganisms in a host. The five major categories of infectious agents are viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths.

Influenza

A viral infection that attacks the respiratory system — nose, throat and lungs. For most people, influenza resolves on its own. But sometimes, influenza and its complications can be deadly.

Signs and symptoms of Influenza

• Fever over 100.4 F (38C)

• Aching muscles

• Chills and sweats

• Headache

• Dry, persistent cough

• Fatigue and weakness

• Nasal congestion

• Sore throat

Measles (Rubeola

A highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. The infection occurs in a sequence of stages during a period of two to three weeks.

Symptoms and signs of Measles

• 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.

Cholera (El tor)

An acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio 36iologi and is spread by ingestion of contaminated food or water. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe and life threatening.

Symptoms and Signs of Cholera (El Tor)

• profuse watery diarrhea, sometimes described as “rice-water stools,”

• vomiting

• rapid heart rate

• loss of skin elasticity

• dry mucous membranes

• low blood pressure

• thirst

• muscle cramps

• restlessness or irritability

Dengue Fever

An acute mosquito –borne fever. The spread of dengue is attributed to expanding geographic distribution of the four dengue viruses and of their mosquito vectors, the most of which is the urban species Aedes aegypti.

Symptoms and Signs of Dengue

• sudden onset of fever of 2 to 7 days

• headache

• body weakness

• joint and muscle pain

• pain behind the eyes

• loss of appetite

• skin rashes

Diptheria

An acute infectious and communicable disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria affecting the respiratory system, especially the local production of the membrane and the myocardium or the central nervous system.

Symptoms and Signs of Diptheria

• Moderate temperature

• Malaise

• Sore throat

• Pharyngeal paralysis

Mumps

A contagious disease that is caused by a virus. Most people will have swelling of the salivary glands (parotitis) causing the puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw. Some people who get mumps have very  symptoms (like a cold), or no symptoms at all and may not know they have the disease. Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but can range from 12–25 days after infection.

Symptoms and Signs of Mumps

Before swelling of the salivary glands includes:

• fever

• headache

• tiredness

• muscle aches

• lost of appetite

Pertussis (Whooping cough)

A respiratory illness and a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attaches to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system and releases toxins (poisons), which eventually damage the cilia and cause airways to swell.

Symptoms and Signs of Pertussis

The early-stagesymptoms which can last for 1-2 weeks starts with cold-like symptoms and usually includes the ff:

• Runny nose

• Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)

• Mild, occasional cough

• Apnea – a pause in breathing (in babies)

Late-stage symptoms in which traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include:

• Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound

• Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits

• Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits

Typhoid Fever

A food-borne infection caused by Salmonella typhosa. The organism is transmitted via polluted water and food especially milk, shellfish, and raw vegetables.

Symptoms and Signs of Typhoid Fever

• Sustained fever

• weakness

• headache

• diarrhea or constipation

• cough

• loss of appetite

• flat rash, rose-colored spots

Poliomyelitis

An acute communicable disease of humans caused by a human enterovirus of the Picornaviridae family. The virus is composed of a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome and a protein capsid. The 3 serotypes of poliovirus carry are antigenically distinct. It is transmitted from one person to another by oral contact with secretions or faecal material from an infected person

Symptoms and Signs of Poliomyelitis

• Headache

• Sore red throat

• fever

• vomiting

• neck and back pain

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Develop after strep throat or scarlet fever infections that are not treated properly. Bacteria called group A Streptococcus or group A strep cause strep throat and scarlet fever. It usually takes about 1 to 5 weeks after strep throat or scarlet fever for rheumatic fever to develop. It is thought to be caused by a response of the body’s defense system — the immune system. The immune system responds to the earlier strep throat or scarlet fever infection and causes a generalized inflammatory response.

Symptoms and Signs of Rheumatic Heart Disease

• Fever

• Painful tender joints

• Fatigue

• jerky, uncontrollable body movements

• painless lumos

• pink rings with a clear center rash

• enlarged heart

• new heart murmur

• fluid around the heart

Malaria

Caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called “malaria vectors.” It can also spread by blood transfusion or through use of an infected hypodermic needle.

Symptoms and Signs of Malaria

• usually appear after 10-15 days

• fever

• headache

• chills

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

It includes two main condition: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is the result of damage to the lungs from smoking cigarettes or by breathing in second-hand smoke or other lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dusts. Less air flows in and out of the airways.

Symptoms and Signs of COPD

• Ongoing cough or a cough that produces lot of mucus

• Shortness of breath

• wheezing or a whistling

• Chest tightness

• colds or other respiratory infections

Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB)

The tubercle bacilli induce infection of the lungs after they are transported in droplets small enough to reach the alveolar space (around 5 to 10 microns). If the infection is not eliminated by the innate defense system of the host, the bacilli could proliferate inside alveolar macrophages, which could migrate away from the lungs and enter other tissues.

Symptoms and Signs of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

• Prolonged cough

• prolonged fever

• night sweats

• anorexia

• weight loss

• chest pain

• fatigue