Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a Gram (+), non-sporing, non-motile thin bacilli that can replicate without the invasion of deeper tissues. The agent secretes a powerful exotoxin that has the ability to break the epithelial barrier and travel to the heart which can result in myocarditis (inflammation of heart) when the larynx is populated. Paralysis of soft palate, organ failure, and sore throat are all signs and symptoms of Diphtheria. As shown in Figure 1, its unique irregular growth pattern is associated with granulated Chinese letters because these bacilli are overlapped and crisscrossed under the microscope. Diphtheria is a life-threatening respiratory barricade that is time-critical when administering treatment. An antibiotic along with antitoxin therapy is needed for a successful treatment. Likelihood of Diphtheria is rare; it has a low incidence rate in resource rich areas and only affects those living in poverty (Goering et al, 2008).…
Pertussis is a respiratory tract infection that is very contagious. It got its name because of the sharp high-pitched intake of air that makes a “whooping” sound that follows a fit of coughs. It was originally considered a childhood disease but now it affects those children that are too young to have completed vaccination and those who have slowly lost the immunity to it. This can cause death in infants, which is why pregnant women should be vaccinated against it. Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. It produces many virulence factors including the pertussis toxin and since it can be transmitted through droplets, it can go from person to person making it highly contagious. When the infected person coughs or sneezes, the droplets in the air can be taken in by anyone nearby.…
It is often thought that whooping cough is an outdated disease, due to the many ways we now have to combat the pathogen, but every year almost 400,000 people die due to infection with Bordetella pertussis (1, 41). Bordetella pertussis is a gram-negative coccobacillus bacterium, which causes whooping cough in humans (1, 41). The bacterium is spread by air borne particles or mucus droplets and is highly contagious. Although there is no known reservoir for the pathogen humans can often be asymptomatic, due to vaccination or immunity, and can easily spread the disease from person to person through coughing or sneezing (1, 41). Once inhaled the pathogen enters the respiratory tract and attaches to the ciliated respiratory epithelium. There…
Diphtheria is a severe pharyngeal or cutaneous infection that may cause serious life threating consequences if left untreated. The causative agents of Diphtheria are toxigenic strains of Corynebaterium diphtheria; this agent is classified as Actinobacteria. The bacteria’s scientific name is Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Corynebacterium is the genus and diphtheriae is the species. The minor bacteria are non-sporulated, gram-positive, bacillus “with enlarged extremities” (Cohen & Powderly, 2010). With a range 0.5 to 1 µm units in diameter, the single strain of cells vary in size. Corynebacterium diphtheriae has fimbriae; this allows the bacteria to cling on to the hos-cell receptors.…
The DTaP and Tdap vaccines protect against three bacterial infections, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The dangers associated with diphtheria come from the toxin released by the bacterium, Corynebacterium diphtheria. The toxin makes it difficult for children to breathe and swallow, while it also attacks the heart, kidneys, and nerves. In the 1920s, diphtheria was a common cause of death in children and adolescents. At its peak, about 150,000 cases of diphtheria occurred in the United States every year. The diphtheria vaccine since it was first used in the United States in the early 1940s, has virtually eliminated the disease. Now we see bacterium, Clostridium tetani. Unlike most vaccine-preventable diseases, tetanus is not a disease…
1. The illness is transmitted from one person to another through aerosol droplets. It begins as a mild respiratory infection, progresses to a cough, develops into a paroxysms of cough (whoop) before symptoms wane over weeks to months (duration is typically 6 – 10 weeks). Some symptoms include only sneezing, low fever, and slight cough and then within a several days you develop the whooping. The mechanism is 2) microscopic droplets carrying Bordetella pertussis are inhaled; 2) bacteria hook to cells lining the throat whose hairlike “cilia” sweep away foreign objects; 3) bacteria reproduce and migrate toward ciliated cells of the lungs; 4) bacteria release a toxin that paralyze the cilia and kills cells; 5) toxin released in the lungs spreads throughout the body; 6) Pneumonia may develop if tiny air sacs deep in the lungs become infected.…
There are many reasons why it is important for a person to be properly vaccinated. One reason for why it is important is so they avoid a contracting communicable disease. Another reason is so diseases will not be spread. A final reason is to avoid the death that some diseases can result in.…
By explaining this, along with some statistics of whooping cough I believe that the parents of the unvaccinated children will understand the importance of the vaccination. So, incidence versus prevalence and a practical breakdown of how it impacts both groups of children is the first step. The prevalence of unvaccinated children getting whooping cough will be nearly higher than the children who have been vaccinated. While the incidence will be higher as well because the 35 unvaccinated children will potentially be the ‘new cases’ of whooping cough within that community. While there is a possibility that a vaccinated child can still develop whooping cough, the symptoms and mortality rate will be much lower. In fact, prior to the 1950’s the mortality rate for children with whooping cough was nearly 9 deaths for every 200 reported cases. Whereas now, the rates are as low as one death for every 2000 cases reported (CDC, 2015). That’s a significant decrease in the incidence and the mortality rate. Since epidemiology is facts and numbers driven, it’s hard to ignore those numbers. Again, I believe that educating these parents is the key to increasing vaccinations and reducing the prevalence of whooping…
Whooping cough is very contagious and is a severe threat for babies. People with whooping cough usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, then breathe in the bacteria and causes the disease. Many babies who get whooping cough are infected by parents, siblings, or other people that have it. If you are pregnant, get vaccinated in your third trimester .Surround your baby with vaccinated family members and caregivers. Make sure your baby gets his all doses of his whooping cough vaccine. Pregnant Women need a Whooping cough vaccine.…
Yellow fever is an acute viral disease is a hemorrhagic fever caused by the Flavivirus. Acute means it comes onset rapidly meaning it affects the whole body. Experts believe the disease originated in Africa and it was introduced in South America in the slave trade within the 16th century. Several major disease epidemic cases have taken place in Europe, the Americas and Europe since the 17th century. It was deemed as the most common dangerous disease in the 19th century.…
Every day the body is under attack by microscopic viruses and bacteria. Vaccines work with the immune system, which is the first line of defense against these pathogens, to strengthen its protective response. It can distinguish self from non-self and thus detect and destroy foreign material (VanMeter & Hubert, 2014). Natural active immunity comes from acquiring an illness or disease which means that it takes getting sick to develop resistance (VanMeter & Hubert). A vaccine is an artificial active immunity that stimulates the production of memory T and B cells, thereby reducing the occurrence of infectious diseases (VanMeter & Hubert).…
Although vaccination has proved to be an effective measure in preventing disease, controversies remain over whether the risks of side effects of vaccinations outweigh the risk of contracting the disease. Vaccination is the process when pathogenic cells are injected into the cells of a healthy person so that the body develops immunity through antibodies to that virus or bacterium. The U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get 16 vaccines including Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae, influenza, human papillomavirus, measles, meningococcal, mumps, pertussis, pneumococcal, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, and varicella (Merino 7-8). Vaccines, along with an acute amount of the disease…
Vaccines teach the immune system by mimicking a natural infection. Vaccination has a long history, from the early harassment of smallpox, to the establishment of vaccination mandates, to the effects of war and social unrest on vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination has saved millions of lives and protected generations since the early Chinese were vaccinated in the 11th century. As technology evolves and vaccine delivery changes by time, vaccination will play an important role to protect the future generation. Although someone might argue that they have freedom to accept the vaccination or to not accept, vaccination is essential and necessary for children’s safety in the future’s society, and children should be required to be vaccinated in the future.…
Every day, people come in contact with diseases. Opening a door, shaking hands, kissing, purchasing and consuming food, all require touch and involve the exchange of bacteria. Prior to inoculating people with a weakened version of diseases, the mortality rate was much higher, especially among infants. Vaccines are administered to protect the masses from diseases and outbreaks that can spread through these exchanges, such as bubonic plague. Despite staggering evidence in favor of inoculation, vaccines are a highly controversial subject- especially the vaccination of young children.…
“If my kid can’t bring peanut butter to school, yours shouldn’t be able to bring preventable diseases.” A statement by a parent to other parents who chose not to vaccinate their child. Although this statement may be a bit extreme it breathes life into a very important topic about vaccinating children. Parents should be for vaccinating their child because they prevent deadly communicable disease and can save their child’s life; and the life of others. The consequences of disease are far more hazardous than the risks of vaccination.…