Health Tips

Smallpox History ( Infectious Disease ):

Smallpox Disease:

Smallpox is a serious disease, contagious and sometimes fatal diseases. There is no specific treatment for smallpox, and the only prevention is vaccination. The name smallpox is derived from the Latin word which means "spotted" and refers to the raised bumps that appear on the face and body of an infected person.

There are two clinical forms of smallpox. Variola major is the severe and most common form of smallpox, with a more extensive rash and high fever. There are four types of variola major smallpox: ordinary (the most common type, which represents 90% or more of cases); modified (mild and occurring in previously vaccinated persons); flat; and hemorrhagic (both rare and very severe). Historically, variola major has a total mortality rate of about 30%, however, flat and hemorrhagic smallpox are usually fatal. Variola minor is less common presentation of smallpox, the disease is much less severe, with death rates historically of 1% or less.

A smallpox outbreak has occurred from time to time for thousands of years, but now the elimination of the disease after the success of the vaccination program in all parts of the world. The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. In the latter case that occurs naturally in the world was in Somalia in 1977. After the disease has been eradicated from the world, routine vaccination against smallpox among the general public stopped because it is no longer necessary for prevention.
As it comes from smallpox

Smallpox is caused by the variola virus that emerged in human societies for thousands of years. Except for laboratory stockpiles, the variola virus has been eliminated. However, in the wake of the events of September and October 2001, there was growing concern that smallpox virus could be used as bioterrorism. For this reason, the Government of the United States to take preventive measures to deal with an outbreak of smallpox.
Transition

In general, direct and fairly prolonged face to face contact is required to spread smallpox from one person to another. Smallpox can also be spread through direct contact with infected body fluids or contaminated objects such as bedding or clothing. Rarely, smallpox could spread by viruses in the air in enclosed spaces such as buildings, buses and trains. Human beings are the only natural hosts of smallpox. Smallpox is not known to be transmitted by insects or animals.

A person with smallpox is sometimes contagious with onset of fever (phase prodrome), but the person becomes most contagious with the beginning of the rash. At this stage of the infected person is usually very sick and unable to move in the community. The injured person is contagious until the last smallpox try falls off.


Smallpox Disease:

The incubation period (Duration: 7 to 17 days) Not intended


Exposure to the virus is followed by an incubation period during which people do not have any symptoms, and may feel fine. This incubation period averages about 12 to 14 days but can range from 7 to 17 days. During this time, and people are not contagious.

The initial symptoms (Prodrome) (Duration: from 2 to 4 days) * In some cases, infectious


The first symptoms of smallpox include fever, malaise, headache and body, and sometimes vomiting. Fever is usually high, in a range of 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. At this time, and people tend to be very satisfactory for the exercise of their normal activities. This is called the prodrome phase and May last for 2 to 4 days.

In the early Rush (Duration: about 4 days) Most infections

Rash distribution: Rash distribution


Rash appears in the first appearance of small red spots on the tongue and mouth.

These spots develop into sores that break open and spread large amounts of virus in the mouth and throat. At this time, the person becomes contagious.

Soon and sores in the mouth break down, a rash appears on the skin, and begins on the face and spreads to the arms and legs and hands and feet. Usually the rash spreads to all parts of the body within 24 hours. The appearance of the rash, fever, and usually located on the person may start to feel better.

On the third day of the rash, the rash becomes raised bumps.

On the fourth day and bumps that are filled with a thick, clear liquid and is often depressed in the middle like the navel. (This is the main characteristic features of smallpox.)

Fever often will rise again at this time, and remain high until scabs form over the bumps.

Pustular Rash (Duration: about 5 days) Infectious

Bumps become pustules - sharply raised, usually round and firm to the touch and if there was a small round object under the skin. Often people say that I feel bumps B pellets embedded in the skin.

Pustules and scabs (Duration: about 5 days) Infectious


Pustules begin to form crust, and then try.

By the end of the second week after the rash appears, most of the sores have scabbed over.

Solution fuss (Duration: about 6 days) Infectious

Scabs begin to decline, leaving marks on the skin that eventually become a place scars. Most scabs will be dropped after three weeks of the appearance of the rash.

Person infectious to others until all of the fuss declined.

Solve the fuss Not intended


Fuss declined. The person is no longer contagious.