Public Health Common disease back to basic

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We normally associate illness with winter, mainly because it’s the time of year we tend to get colds and flu.

However, there is no shortage of ailments and conditions that make life unpleasant and spoil our fun during the summer months.

The following are examples of health issues associated with summer:     

1. Food poisoning

According to the CDC (Centre for Disease Control), every year around 3 000 Americans die from food borne diseases.

Warm weather encourages bacteria to multiply, and who doesn’t enjoy barbecues and picnics during summer? Food that is prepared in advance and allowed to stand in the heat creates the perfect conditions for contamination and food poisoning. 

Pre-prepared food should be handled hygienically, stored safely and kept cool if possible. It’s also better to choose foods that don’t spoil as easily or can be freshly prepared at your destination.

NHS Choices explains that most cases of food poisoning can be treated at home and do not require medical advice, and that most people will feel better in a matter of days. It is however important to replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea.  

If symptoms are severe, you may need to be admitted to hospital for a few days and given intravenous hydration.

2. Heat rash

Heat rash is a red or pink rash usually found on areas of the body that are covered with clothing. It happens during hot humid conditions and is most common in children. Heat rash develops when sweat ducts become blocked and swell up, looking like dots or tiny pimples on the skin. It often causes discomfort and itching.

Heat rash usually heals on its own in a matter of days and doesn’t require medical attention. In some cases the rash gets infected with symptoms like pain, swelling and pus. If this happens, be sure to contact your doctor.

3. Water-borne conditions 

We all like to spend time in the water during summer, and Dennis Maki, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, warns of the risk of bacterial infections and other water-borne illnesses as a result of taking part in recreational water activities.

Maki adds that apart from natural bodies of water like rivers and lakes, pools and hot tubs can also be sources of gastrointestinal problems; skin, ear and eye infections; and respiratory, neurological and viral problems. The safest places to swim are pools that are regularly checked for their chlorine levels. 

4. Summer colds

There is a kind of virus that produces cold-like symptoms, which tends to rear its ugly head during the summer months. It is called enterovirus and can cause more complicated symptoms than the typical winter cold.

According to Merck Manual, symptoms of a summer cold caused by enterovirus include fever, headache, and sore throat, and sometimes mouth sores or a rash. Treatment is basically aimed at relieving symptoms.

5. Headache

An unfortunate result of summer activities that involve spending a lot of time in the hot sun can be a spitting headache. A survey by the National Headache Foundation indicates that headache sufferers consider summer to be the worst time of year for headaches.

As the temperature goes up, so does your risk for getting a headache. One theory is that the heat makes blood vessels in your head expand, causing them to press against nerve endings. Dehydration and strenuous exercise in hot weather can also lead to headaches.

An over-the-counter painkiller will usually alleviate headaches caused by heat exposure and exercise, and drinking enough water should take care of a dehydration headache.   

6. Heat stroke

Heat stroke or hyperthermia results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures. It can happen for example when children are left in hot cars during summer.   

Emedicinehealth defines heat stroke as a condition where the body’s cooling mechanisms are overcome by heat, resulting in a core heat of over 40°C. Heat stroke is preceded by signs of heat exhaustion like headaches, dizziness and weakness, and results in unconsciousness, organ failure and eventually death.

Hyperthermia is primarily treated by outside cooling of the body with the help of water, cold air or ice packs. Internal cooling by flushing the stomach or rectum with cold may also be used. Persons with hyperthermia need to be hospitalised in order to be tested for complications like muscle breakdown, which can damage the kidneys.    

7. Sunburn

With summer comes the danger of sunburn, which can be extremely serious. Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun that damage your skin cells. The risk of damage depends on things like the time of day, the amount of time spent in the sun and if you use sun protection or not.   

Sunburn can lead to long-term skin damage and even skin cancer. MedicineNet.com explains that there are three major kinds of skin cancer:

  • Basal cell carcinoma (most common type)
  • Squamous cell carcinoma (second most common)
  • Melanoma (less common but considerably more dangerous)

The best and simplest way to avoid sunburn is to stay out of the sun. Other ways to be sun-safe is to stay out of the midday sun, stay in the shade, use a good sunscreen and wear a hat and protective clothing.

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According to the reports, the 10 most important public health problems and concerns are (listed alphabetically):

  • Alcohol-related harms
  • Food safety
  • Healthcare-associated infections
  • Heart disease and stroke
  • HIV
  • Motor vehicle injury
  • Nutrition, physical activity and obesity
  • Prescription drug overdose
  • Teen pregnancy
  • Tobacco use

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As you might think, bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, and viral infections are caused by viruses. Perhaps the most important distinction between bacteria and viruses is that antibiotic drugs usually kill bacteria, but they aren’t effective against viruses.

Bacteria

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in many different types of environments. Some varieties live in extremes of cold or heat. Others make their home in people’s intestines, where they help digest food. Most bacteria cause no harm to people, but there are exceptions.

Infections caused by bacteria include:

  • Strep throat
  • Tuberculosis
  • Urinary tract infections

Inappropriate use of antibiotics has helped create bacterial diseases that are resistant to treatment with different types of antibiotic medications.

Viruses

Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and require living hosts — such as people, plants or animals — to multiply. Otherwise, they can’t survive. When a virus enters your body, it invades some of your cells and takes over the cell machinery, redirecting it to produce the virus.

Diseases caused by viruses include:

  • Chickenpox
  • AIDS
  • Common colds

In some cases, it may be difficult to determine whether a bacterium or a virus is causing your symptoms. Many ailments — such as pneumonia, meningitis and diarrhea — can be caused by either bacteria or viruses.

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Fungal Diseases

Fungal diseases can affect anyone. Learning about them can help you and your doctor recognize the symptoms of a fungal disease early and may help prevent serious complications.

Fungal diseases are often caused by fungi that are common in the environment. Most fungi are not dangerous, but some types can be harmful to health.

Mild fungal skin diseases can look like a rash and are very common. Fungal diseases in the lungs are often similar to other illnesses such as the flu or tuberculosis. Some fungal diseases like fungal meningitis and bloodstream infections are less common than skin and lung infections but can be deadly.

 Giardia is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal illness known as giardiasis. Giardia (also known as Giardia intestinalis, Giardia lamblia, or Giardia duodenalis) is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected humans or animals.

Waterborne Diseases. Waterborne diseases are caused by drinking contaminated or dirty water. Contaminated water can cause many types of diarrheal diseases, including Cholera, and other serious illnesses such as Guinea worm disease,Typhoid, and Dysentery. Water related diseases cause 3.4 million deaths each year.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Most varieties of E. coli are harmless or cause relatively brief diarrhea. But a few particularly nasty strains, such as E. coli O157:H7, can cause severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Below are our eight favorite causes of gastrointestinal upset, tingling in the extremities and other symptoms of food gone terribly, terribly wrong — and how to avoid them. Spoiler alert: A lot of it has to do with the basic washing and refrigerating of stuff.

1. Campylobacter enteritis
A common bacterial infection producing severe gastrointestinal upset that can hang around as long as two weeks. It’s rarely fatal in healthy people.
The culprits: Improperly slaughtered or processed meat not thoroughly cooked, contaminated vegetables, milk or water. Pets can also shed the bacteria through their “business.”
What it feels like: You’d pay closer attention to the flu like symptoms (fever, aches and pains) if you weren’t running to the bathroom every 15 minutes of your life.
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Plucked that mass-processed pack of pork chops out of the “manager’s special” bin. Also, if you really need to be told, leave seagulls alone. They’re neither friendly nor tasty and are known to harbor higher concentrations of the bacteria. Common sense and decent kitchen cleanliness should protect you from needless downfall. 

2. Cholera 
Contrary to what literature might have you believe, there will be no love in the time of cholera, only misery, woe and lots of diarrhea.
The culprits: Contaminated water and eating raw or under cooked seafood that was hanging out in that water.
What it feels like: Being slowly dried in a dehydrator that looks surprisingly like your bathroom while your abdomen is squeezed by a giant godlike fist. You might just want to set up shop in there for a spell, the toxin in the cholera bacteria causes any water in your body to “release.” Replenish as you might, it likely won’t stay in there very long. Keep at it diligently, though, and you’ll be fine in about a week.
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Splashed around in a stagnant portion of the Meekong Delta for so long, or eaten those Mexican oysters with quite as much gusto.

3. E. coli Enteritis 
The black sheep of the food poisoning world, E. coli’s the one with a strain that’ll actually kill you regardless of treatment attempts. How subversive.
The culprits: Escherichia coli, or E. for short, has one incredibly powerful strain: O157:H7, although other related strains can cause infection as well. This bacterium is found in mass-processed ground beef and on vegetables that were improperly cleaned or handled by contaminated fingers. 
What it feels like: You’ve been stabbed in the colon, which would explain the crippling cramps and other things that might happen if one were actually stabbed in the colon, including blood. Not that there’s a “better” food poisoning to get, but this is one you really want to avoid.
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Eaten that rare burger of questionable origin while chugging raw milk in that crazy crowded public pool, all of which have been known to harbor the bacteria. 

4. Ciguatera (Fish Poisoning)
An incurable disease caused by eating fish contaminated by coral algae toxins. A real doozy, with an estimated 50,000 cases each year. 
The culprits: Ciguatera is limited to fish of tropical origin. It’s impossible to detect by seafood processors, and can’t be killed by cooking or freezing. Live in fear of grouper, or continue on with your life with relatively minimal risk.
What it feels like: At first, typical food poisoning symptoms may present, but the bigger problem with ciguatera is its severe and often irreversible neurological effects. These can include trouble sensing hot or cold, tingling “phantom limb” pain in the extremities and other symptoms that may be confused with anything from multiple sclerosis to heart failure. 
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Hit that fried “mystery tropical fish” eating contest at that Margaritaville in that tropical location with your buddies. To minimize your risk of catching this seriously unfun bug, make sure you know what your fish is and if possible, where it came from. Larger fish from shallower waters in a tropical environment are your worst bet. 

5. Listeria
The range of listeria infection, or listeriosis, lands you somewhere between asymptomatic and dead and can occur from eating or drinking basically anything that was grown, raised or milked.
The culprits: Raw or improperly pasteurized dairy products, vegetables grown in contaminated soil (yup, it can live in soil), preserved and smoked meats (can be identified by a slippery or slimy film), canned and raw seafood and fresh fruit. 
What it feels like: A bad flu, although more serious complications like meningitis can occur in people with weakened immune systems, as well as in young children, pregnant women and the elderly.  
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Eaten all those root vegetables straight from the ground without washing them right after milking your cow. I mean a hippie farmer’s life is great, unless your land is rife with listeria. 

6. Staphylococcus
This is the picnic food poisoning everyone warns you about, especially you, dude who brought the mayo-choked potato salad (try this one instead). 
The culprits: The bacteria releases its toxins at the comfy incubator that is room temperature food, which gives staph food poisoning its signature cookout-ruining reputation. The worst part? Reheating contaminated food won’t kill it off. Actually the worst part is the symptoms.
What it feels like: Explosive, and not in a romantic feelings kind of way. Within an hour of ingesting contaminated food, both ends will be entirely occupied for up to a day. The good news is, once it’s out, it’s out and you can get right back to the picnic. Oh wait, it’s over. 
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Microwaved that leftover potato salad thinking no bug could possibly survive the ordeal.

7. Salmonella 
The bacteria that causes salmonellosis, or salmonella poisoning, has a serious reputation among poultry and their handlers, and BOY does it love hanging out on the stretches of counter you missed with the sanitizer.
The culprits: Although eggs, processed chicken parts and other raw meat are particularly good at spreading the bacteria, pet reptiles and rodents are also carriers. Wash everything any dead or live animal comes in contact with and maybe don’t allow live animals in the kitchen while you’re cooking, period.
What it feels like: Your small intestine betraying you entirely. Expect a week or so of your typical diarrhea, abdominal cramps and possibly a fever.
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Attempted your own Japanese-style chicken breast sashimi or let Shelly the turtle roam around willy-nilly on the cutting board. Especially before slicing said chicken sashimi.

8. Shigellosis
Similar to salmonella but yet so very different is shigella, which attacks the large intestine rather than the small. 
The culprit: You’re going to love this — human waste. While plenty of food-borne illness can be spread this way, particularly by catching a ride in food or water, many cases of shigellosis can be directly attributed to contact with…well, you know. It can also be resistant to antibiotics, so definitely practice safe sewage-wading.
What it feels like: Salmonella, only with more blood.
Maybe you shouldn’t have: Taken on that blackout drunken dare to see what’s really under that manhole by the creek, then gone straight to In-N Out. Just maybe. We live in a developed nation, you almost have to try to get this one. It’s Darwinism, people.

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Measles

Symptoms

Symptoms can appear 7 to 18 days after exposure to the measles virus. But before you even know you are sick, you can spread the measles to others.

Initial symptoms include:

  • fever
  • cough
  • runny nose
  • red eyes
  • sleepiness
  • irritability (feeling cranky or in a bad mood)

Small, white spots may appear inside the mouth and throat. These are called Koplik spots. About 3 to 7 days after symptoms begin; a red blotchy rash develops on the face and spreads down the body. The rash can last 4 to 7 days.                  

Complications can include:

  • ear infections
  • blindness
  • pneumonia (lung infection)
  • encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can cause seizures, brain damage or death
  • premature labour, miscarriage and low birth weight if contracted during pregnancy

Contagious period

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. You can spread measles to others from 4 days before the rash starts until 4 days after the rash appears. The virus is highly contagious and is most often spread when people first get sick or before they know they have measles.

If you get the measles

If you are showing symptoms of measles, contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible and describe your symptoms over the phone. Because measles is so contagious, follow their instructions so that they can arrange to see you without exposing others to the virus.

It is very important to diagnose measles early to help prevent it from spreading to other people.

How measles is diagnosed

Healthcare providers can diagnose measles based on your symptoms and your possible exposure to the virus (if there has been a recent outbreak in your community). Your healthcare provider will confirm if you have the measles 
virus with a:

  • blood test
  • lab test of your urine
  • nasopharyngeal (back of the nose and throat) swab

Measles treatment

There is no cure for the measles virus. The treatment is meant to relieve symptoms and to prevent severe complications.

If you have measles, you should avoid contact with others as much as possible. This will help to limit the spread of the virus to other people.

Your healthcare provider will likely:

  • ask that you stay at home until 4 days after the rash first appears unless your symptoms worsen
  • give you medication (like pain relievers) to reduce your fever
  • tell you to drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy foods and get lots of rest

Most people fully recover from the measles within 2 or 3 weeks.

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Tuberculosis.  Also known as TB, is a serious disease. TB is caused by bacteria that spread through the air when a person with contagious TB coughs, sneezes, sings, or talks. TB usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body like glands, bones, joints, kidneys, the brain, and reproductive organs.  Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects your lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.

Once rare in developed countries, tuberculosis infections began increasing in 1985, partly because of the emergence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV weakens a person’s immune system so it can’t fight the TB germs. In the United States, because of stronger control programs, tuberculosis began to decrease again in 1993, but remains a concern.

Many strains of tuberculosis resist the drugs most used to treat the disease. People with active tuberculosis must take several types of medications for many months to eradicate the infection and prevent development of antibiotic resistance.

Symptoms

Although your body may harbor the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB), your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:

  • Latent TB.In this condition, you have a TB infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn’t contagious. It can turn into active TB, so treatment is important for the person with latent TB and to help control the spread of TB. An estimated 2 billion people have latent TB.
  • Active TB.This condition makes you sick and in most cases can spread to others. It can occur in the first few weeks after infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later.

Signs and symptoms of active TB include:

  • Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
  • Coughing up blood
  • Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Chills
  • Loss of appetite

Tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body, including your kidneys, spine or brain. When TB occurs outside your lungs, signs and symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example, tuberculosis of the spine may give you back pain, and tuberculosis in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine.

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 Hepatitis – is a general term meaning inflammation of the liver. Although there are many forms of hepatitis, it is most commonly caused by the hepatitis A, B, C, D or E viruses.

Types of hepatitis

Each type of hepatitis has different symptoms and modes of transmission. Hepatitis can be self-limiting (healing on its own), or can progress to scarring of the liver. Hepatitis is acute when it lasts less than six months and chronic when it persists longer. A blood test is necessary to diagnose hepatitis. Treatments for hepatitis will depend on the type

. What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is a tissue’s reaction to irritation or injury. It generally results in pain, redness, and swelling.

There are many causes of hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is caused by a virus. Viral hepatitis can either be acute (lasting less than 6 months) or chronic (lasting more than 6 months). Viral hepatitis can be spread from person to person. Some types of viral hepatitis can be spread through sexual contact.

Several viruses are known to cause hepatitis. Common forms of viral hepatitis include:

  • Hepatitis A: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were about 3,050 instances of acute hepatitis A infections in the U.S. in 2012. This form of hepatitis does not lead to a chronic infection and usually has no complications. The liver usually heals from hepatitis A within 2 months. However, occasional deaths from hepatitis A have occurred due to liver failure. Hepatitis A can be prevented by vaccination.
  • Hepatitis B: This form of hepatitis infects between 200,000 and 300,000 people in the U.S. each year, but as many as 1.2 million people might be carrying the disease. More than 70% of all cases of hepatitis B affect young people between the ages of 15 and 39. Most people recover from the virus within 6 months. However, a few cases cause a life-long, chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis causes ongoing damage to the liver. The earlier in life hepatitis B is contracted, the more likely it is to become chronic. People can carry the virus without feeling sick. These people can still spread the virus. Hepatitis B can be prevented by getting a vaccine.
  • Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is one of the most common causes of liver disease in the U.S., and the number one reason for liver transplant. At least 80% of patients with hepatitis C develop a chronic liver infection. About 3.2 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have chronic hepatitis C infection. It often does not show any symptoms. No vaccine is yet available to prevent hepatitis C.

Most people recover from hepatitis, and the disease is often preventable. However, it is still considered a serious health risk because it can:

  • Destroy liver tissue.
  • Spread easily from person to person.
  • Weaken the body’s immune system.
  • Cause the liver to fail.
  • Cause liver cancer.
  • Cause death.

How does someone get or spread hepatitis?

A person can get hepatitis A from eating food or drinking water carrying the virus. A person can get hepatitis B in many ways, including:

  • Having sex with an infected person.
  • Sharing dirty needles.
  • Being in direct contact with infected blood.
  • Getting needle stick injuries.
  • Being transferred from mother to unborn child.
  • Being in contact with an infected person’s body fluids.

An infected mother has a high chance of giving hepatitis B to her child during or after birth. All pregnantwomen should be tested for hepatitis B. Within 12 hours of birth, infants born to mothers with hepatitis B need to receive treatment with hepatitis B antibody and hepatitis B vaccine. This can prevent transmission of hepatitis B from mother to the baby.

A person can get hepatitis C from:

  • Sharing dirty needles.
  • Being in direct contact with infected blood.
  • Getting needle stick injuries.
  • Having sex with an infected person (less common).

Blood products are currently tested for hepatitis B and C, so it is not likely that a person will get hepatitis from receiving them. However, blood transfusions or organ transplants before 1992 might have not been tested for hepatitis. If you received a procedure before 1992, you might want to get tested for hepatitis.

Additionally, “baby boomers,” born in the U.S. between 1945 and 1965, are at increased risk of having hepatitis C. If you are part of this group you should be screened for hepatitis C even in the absence of risk factors listed above.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis?

The most common symptoms of hepatitis include:

Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you have any or a combination of these symptoms.

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References:

 Cholera . It is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholera

Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Diphtheria causes a thick covering in the back of the throat. It can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, and even death. CDC recommends vaccines for infants, children, teens and adults to prevent diphtheria

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 What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a disease that causes very severe coughing that may last for months. During bursts of violent coughing, you may make a noise that sounds like a “whoop” when you try to take a breath. You can cough so hard that you hurt a rib.

Whooping cough spreads easily from one person to another. Getting the pertussis vaccine can help you avoid the disease, make it less severe, and prevent you from spreading it to those who are at risk for more serious problems.

With good care, most people recover from whooping cough with no problems. But severe coughing spells can decrease the blood’s oxygen supply and lead to other problems, such as pneumonia. The illness can be dangerous in older adults and young children, especially babies who aren’t old enough to have had the pertussis vaccine.

What causes whooping cough?

Whooping cough is caused by bacteria that infect the top of the throat (pharynx). The bacteria bother the throat, which causes coughing.

When someone with whooping cough coughs, sneezes, or laughs, tiny drops of fluid holding the bacteria are put into the air. The bacteria can infect others when people breathe in the drops or get them on their hands and touch their mouth or nose. After the bacteria infect someone, symptoms appear about 7 to 14 days later.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of whooping cough may occur in three stages, especially in young children. Adults and older children may not follow this pattern of symptoms.

In stage 1, symptoms are like those of a cold:

  • You sneeze and have a runny nose, a mild cough, watery eyes, and sometimes a mild fever.
  • The symptoms last from several days to 2 weeks.
  • This is when you are most likely to spread the disease.

In stage 2, the cold symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse.

  • The cough goes from a mild, dry, hacking cough to a severe cough that you can’t control.
  • You may cough so long and hard that you can’t breathe. When you can take a breath of air, it may make a whooping noise.
  • After a coughing fit, you may vomit and feel very tired.
  • Between coughing fits, you feel normal.
  • Symptoms are most severe in this stage. They usually last 2 to 4 weeks or longer.

In stage 3, you still have symptoms, but you feel better and grow stronger.

  • The cough may get louder.
  • Coughing fits may happen off and on for weeks.
  • Coughing fits may flare up if you get a cold or have a similar illness.
  • This stage may last longer if you have never had the vaccine.

Adults and older children usually have milder symptoms than young children. How bad your symptoms are also depends on whether you’ve had the vaccine and how long ago it was.

Symptoms of whooping cough usually last 6 to 10 weeks, but they may last longer.

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Encephalitis . It is inflammation of the brain. There are several causes, but the most common is viral infection.

Encephalitis often causes only mild flu-like signs and symptoms — such as a fever or headache — or no symptoms at all. Sometimes the flu-like symptoms are more severe. Encephalitis can also cause confused thinking, seizures, or problems with senses or movement.

Rarely, encephalitis can be life-threatening. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important because it’s difficult to predict how encephalitis will affect each individual.

Symptoms

Bulging fontanel

Most people with viral encephalitis have mild flu-like symptoms, such as:

  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Aches in muscles or joints
  • Fatigue or weakness

Sometimes the signs and symptoms are more severe, and might include:

  • Confusion, agitation or hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Loss of sensation or paralysis in certain areas of the face or body
  • Muscle weakness
  • Problems with speech or hearing
  • Loss of consciousness

In infants and young children, signs and symptoms might also include:

  • Bulging in the soft spots (fontanels) of an infant’s skull
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Body stiffness
  • Poor feeding or not waking for a feeding
  • Irritability

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Botulism, It  is a rare but serious condition caused by toxins from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum.

Three common forms of botulism are:

  • Food borne botulism.The harmful bacteria thrive and produce the toxin in environments with little oxygen, such as in home-canned food.
  • Wound botulism.If these bacteria get into a cut, they can cause a dangerous infection that produces the toxin.
  • Infant botulism.This most common form of botulism begins after Clostridium botulinum bacterial spores grow in a baby’s intestinal tract. It typically occurs in babies between the ages of 2 months and 8 months.

All types of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies.

Symptoms

Food borne botulism

Signs and symptoms of food borne botulism typically begin between 12 and 36 hours after the toxin gets into your body. But, depending on how much toxin was consumed, the start of symptoms may range from a few hours to a few days. Signs and symptoms of food borne botulism include:

  • Difficulty swallowing or speaking
  • Dry mouth
  • Facial weakness on both sides of the face
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Drooping eyelids
  • Trouble breathing
  • Nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps
  • Paralysis

Wound botulism

Signs and symptoms of wound botulism appear about 10 days after the toxin has entered the body. Wound botulism signs and symptoms include:

  • Difficulty swallowing or speaking
  • Facial weakness on both sides of the face
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Drooping eyelids
  • Trouble breathing
  • Paralysis

The wound may or may not appear red and swollen.

Infant botulism

If infant botulism is related to food, such as honey, problems generally begin within 18 to 36 hours after the toxin enters the baby’s body. Signs and symptoms include:

  • Constipation, which is often the first sign
  • Floppy movements due to muscle weakness and trouble controlling the head
  • Weak cry
  • Irritability
  • Drooling
  • Drooping eyelids
  • Tiredness
  • Difficulty sucking or feeding
  • Paralysis

Certain signs and symptoms usually don’t occur with botulism. For example, botulism doesn’t generally increase blood pressure or heart rate, or cause fever or confusion. Sometimes, however, wound botulism may cause fever.

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 Food borne & Waterborne Diseases

Food borne or waterborne diseases are caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages.

Causes 

Food borne and waterborne illnesses result from the failure to control an identified (or unidentified) hazard. 

What is a hazard? There are many ways to describe a hazard. In its simplest form, a hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm. In food and water, it is an unacceptable contamination that causes the food or water to be unfit for human consumption. 

A hazard falls into three categories: 

  • physical
  • chemical
  • biological. 

Food borne disease has the potential to be caused by all three of these categories of hazards.

Biological food borne illness is by far the most common occurrence of food borne illness and is caused by a large number of pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms (germs), including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, parasites and fungi. A very common virus that causes food-borne illness is norovirus (people often call illness caused by this virus “stomach flu”, although it is not really a true “flu”, which is a respiratory illness). Salmonella bacteria also commonly cause food borne illness.

Chemical illness arises from substances that do not belong in food, but can contaminate it through carelessness or malicious intent or simply by contact with the food. Pesticides and cleaners are some of the chemicals that can cause harm through food. For example, bleach can cause poisoning and should only be kept in a clearly marked container to avoid contaminating food. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxin in mussels, clams and oysters is an example of a chemical hazard that can cause illness.

Physical food borne illness (injury, in this case) results from foreign objects in food like wood splinters, glass and metal fragments, pebbles or bone fragments.

Waterborne disease falls into two of these categories

  • chemical
  • biological.

Many of the pathogens that cause food borne illness also cause waterborne disease. Because water systems often serve large numbers of people, outbreaks of disease can also be very large.

Symptoms

The symptoms of physical and chemical causes of illness and injury will vary considerably.

Foreign objects in food can cause broken teeth or internal bleeding.

Chemicals in food or water can cause burns to the stomach and intestines, neurological (nerve) effects such as tingling, numbness and many other symptoms, or chronic (long term) problems such as cancer.

Biological causes will affect primarily the stomach and/or intestines, since food and water are taken internally, and can include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • cramps
  • diarrhea
  • fever
  • In certain types of food borne illness, more severe life-threatening symptoms or long term symptoms may show up. A long term symptom resulting from some E. coli O157:H7 infections is kidney damage, called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). 

Prevention

Food

eat only food that is from approved sources. Follow the four basic rules of

  • clean
  • separate (don’t cross-contaminate)
  • cook
  • chill

Water

If you draw water from a community water system, find out who operates it and pay attention to any advisories they provide.

If you draw water from a private well, you may consider having it tested. Get rid of any sources of chemical or biological contamination and consider treating the water.

If you draw water from a surface supply like a lake, stream or dugout, or if you have a shallow well (which will most likely be influenced by surface water), you should treat it to get rid of any pathogens.

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 Salmonella infection.  (salmonellosis) is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract.Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines and are shed through feces. Humans become infected most frequently through contaminated water or food.

Acanthamoeba Infection

Acanthamoeba Keratitis Infection

African Sleeping Sickness (African trypanosomiasis)

Alveolar Echinococcosis (Echinococcosis, Hydatid Disease)

Amebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica Infection)

American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease)

Ancylostomiasis (Hookworm)

Angiostrongyliasis (Angiostrongylus Infection)

Anisakiasis (Anisakis Infection, Pseudoterranova Infection)

Ascariasis (Ascaris Infection, Intestinal Roundworms)

 

Babesiosis (Babesia Infection)

Balantidiasis (Balantidium Infection)

Balamuthia

Baylisascariasis (Baylisascaris Infection, Raccoon Roundworm)

Bed Bugs

Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis)

Blastocystis hominis Infection

Body Lice Infestation (Pediculosis)

Capillariasis (Capillaria Infection)

Cercarial Dermatitis (Swimmer’s Itch)

Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis)

Chilomastix mesniliInfection (Nonpathogenic [Harmless] Intestinal Protozoa)

Clonorchiasis (Clonorchis Infection)

CLM (Cutaneous Larva Migrans, Ancylostomiasis, Hookworm)

“Crabs” (Pubic Lice)

Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium Infection)

Cutaneous Larva Migrans (CLM, Ancylostomiasis, Hookworm)

Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora Infection)

Cysticercosis (Neurocysticercosis)

CystoisosporaInfection (Cystoisosporiasis) formerly Isospora Infection

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Autoimmune Diseases

There are approximately 80 different types of autoimmune diseases and they affect more than 23 million Americans. Learn more about the causes, increasing prevalence and research advances regarding these diseases.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

MORE ›

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the fatty substance that surrounds and protects the nerve fibers in the central nervous system.

Crohn’s & Colitis

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), both also known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), are autoimmune diseases in which the body’s immune system attacks the intestines.

Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease which can damage any part of the body, including the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, primarily the synovium, the membrane that lines the joints.

Allergies & Asthma

Allergies and asthma are immune mediated diseases that occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a foreign substance (an allergen), such as pollen or animal dander, that in most people is generally harmless.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people in the United States and its incidence appears to be rising. In addition, 2.5 million Americans are undiagnosed and may be at risk for long-term health complications.

Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rheumatic autoimmune disease. It is a rare disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s cartilage.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a rheumatic autoimmune disease of the connective tissue which causes skin thickening, spontaneous scarring, blood vessel disease and varying degrees of inflammation.

Liver Disease

There are many diseases and disorders that can cause the liver to stop functioning properly. Some of the different causes of liver disease include viral infection, alcohol or other environmental toxins, autoimmune disease and genetics.

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens (“germs”) including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, and are ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide by the World Health Organization.

Cancer

Cancer represents more than 200 different types of malignancies—diseases caused by the uncontrolled and destructive growth of cells. When cancer cells grow unregulated, they can develop into tumors, invade nearby parts of the body and spread throughout the body.

Heart Disease

Heart disease encompasses many diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, angina pectoris (chest pain or discomfort caused by a reduced blood supply to the heart muscle), stroke and heart failure.

  • STEVE RAMSEY , PHD PUBLIC HEALTH – OKOTOKS , ALBERTA – CANADA

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