Small Pox Essay examples -- essays research papers

Small PoxSmall pox, which was erstwhile the most feared disease known by mankind started let out in the days of Christopher Columbus. The disease format out to change thelives of the people in the worse way. It became known as an epidemic diseasethat ended up killing hundreds of people. Small pox started out in Hispaniolaand because of no cure, it traveled to the island of Puerto Rico, and consequently Cuba.It was only a matter of time until it spread to the mainland, somewhere inAmerica. In the Middle Ages, handsome pox was a highly contagious disease whichoften lead to death if not treated. In this term paper you will read and learn or so the causes, symptoms and treatments of this horrible disease.Small pox which was often refereed to as a life threatening disease, iscaused by a virus, which was not discovered until the nineteenth century. Mostof the victims whom acquired subatomic pox, was a result of face to face contact.It is passed through the nose where tiny particles are released when theinfected person sneezes, also by the mouth where particles are once againejected when the victim coughs. The disease can be transmitted by dried smallpox scabs and through materials the infected person has come in contact with.The virus is reproduced in the lymphoid tissue and released into the body.Virus re work begins when the virion comes into contact with a suitablehost cell. The virus must interact with a receptor on the cell surface. Theinfectious cycle usually consists of two stages. The first stage makes theproteins necessary for the protein to form. The second stage forms the adultvirion to start the flaming on the body. Smallpox attack with no warning.There are several painful symptoms that are brought upon by this disease.In most of the cases, symptoms in a smart victim will occur ten to twelve dayslater. Patients will develop chills, high fever, and nausousness. The feversmay reach up to 105 degrees farenht. In tierce or four days later a rash eru ptsand the fever and discomfort may subside. It begins on the face, then spreadingto the chest, arms, back and finally the legs. It consists of gravid red lumpswhich become pimple like, swelling and containing puss. "The pustules gave thedisease its name, by which it was first known in the west as Variola" (Giblin59). This rash itches severely exclusively scratching must be avoided in order toprevent an... ...The vaccination contained the virus that causes cowpox,this disease is similar to small pox but a milder form. This causes theproduction of antibodies that give protection against both cowpox and small pox.There is no specific treatment for small pox. Due to the disease being socontagious, patients urgency to be isolated until they are completely recovered.The sores must be kept clean and penicillin and sulfa medications are sometimesgiven to prevent further infections. However, aft(prenominal) a person has come acrossthe disease and recovers from it they become pe rmanently immune to the virus.Jenner later promoted the smallpox vaccination and ultimately wiped the virusclear out. Since then there has only been one case of smallpox but they are notcertain that it really was the smallpox virus or just a clone of a chicken poxvirus. Vaccinations only work depending on ones immune system if it is weak thevaccine will not take.The number of small pox infected countries gradually decreased. " InApril 1978, WHO ( world health organization) officials announced the worldslast known case of naturally occurring small pox had been found in Somalia inOctober 1977" ( Fetzer 513).