Typhoid Disease Biology Grade 9-12

Typhoid

• Typhoid is a human disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi.
• It affects humans only and is spread through contaminated food or water, typically by consuming feces from an infected individual.
• Symptoms appear 1-3 weeks after exposure and can be mild or severe, including:
  • High fever (39-40°C)
  • Abdominal pain
  • Sore throat/headache
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Rose-colored spots on the chest and abdomen
  • Enlarged spleen and liver
• Untreated typhoid lasts 4-6 weeks, with a 20% mortality rate.
• Some people may carry the bacteria even after recovering, so it's essential to test their fecal samples to prevent further spread.

Control and Prevention of Typhoid

• Typhoid is treated with antibiotics.
• Antibiotic treatment is very effective, with a death rate of less than 1%.
• Patients with typhoid also need proper management, including high-calorie meals and plenty of fluids to replenish lost minerals and energy.

Gonorrhoea and Syphilis

• Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacterium and can be treated effectively in early stages using antibiotics.
• All strains of gonorrhoea are curable, but some have become more resistant to antibiotics.
• Past infections can cause complications to develop more rapidly.
• Ways to prevent the spread of gonorrhoea include:
  • Being faithful to your sexual partner
  • Using condoms
  • Avoiding sexual contact if you think you may be infected and visiting a doctor
  • Notifying sexual partners if you are infected so they can be examined and treated
  • Not having sex until treatment is completed

Syphilis

• Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum.
• Any sexually active person can be infected, and it is most common among people between 15 and 30 years of age.
• Syphilis transmission occurs:
  • Typically through sexual contact
  • From mother to fetus
  • Not through contact with toilet seats, baths, or door knobs
• Syphilis symptoms appear in stages:
  • Primary: painless sores appear at the site of initial contact
  • Secondary: symptoms appear around 6 weeks after the primary sore, including:
    • Rash
    • Tiredness
    • Fever
    • Sore throat
    • Headaches
    • Hoarseness
    • Loss of appetite
    • Patchy hair loss
    • Swollen glands

Control and Prevention of Syphilis

• Be faithful to your sexual partner
• Use a male or female condom
• If you think you are infected, avoid sexual contact and visit your local STD clinic, hospital, or doctor
• Notify all sexual contacts immediately so they can obtain examination and treatment
• All pregnant women should receive at least one prenatal blood test for syphilis so they can be cured and any potential damage to their baby prevented
• Do not have sex until your treatment for syphilis is completed

Chancroid

• Chancroid is a bacterial STD more commonly seen in men than in women.
• It is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi.
• Infection with H.ducreyi often produces painful sores, usually in the genital area.
• Although it's not too serious in itself and can be cured easily using antibiotics, it is a serious problem because the ulcers caused by chancroid increase the likelihood of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.
• Control and prevention of chancroid include:
  • Avoiding having sex until your chancroid is cured to prevent passing it on to others
  • Using a condom if you need to have sex
  • Getting tested for HIV at least once a year

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• STDs are infectious diseases that are spread through sexual contact.
• Previously known as VD, some authorities today use the term sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to indicate that the microbes responsible for them do not always cause symptoms.
• Symptoms in early stages are usually mild and mistaken for other ailments.
• Can cause great harm if not treated early and can cause infertility, brain damage, and even death.
• Can be cured using antibiotics if caught in time.
• Can be avoided altogether with sensible sexual behavior.
• STDs are a growing problem in Ethiopia, particularly among young people.

Gonorrhoea

• Caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
• Gonorrhoea germs are found in the mucus areas of the body - vagina, penis, throat, and rectum.
• Any sexually active person can be infected, but most often found in younger people (ages 15-30), particularly in people who have many sex partners.
• Reported more frequently from urban areas than rural areas.
• Spread through sexual contact.
• Having unprotected sex increases the risk of getting the infection, and the more partners you have, the higher the risk.
• The infection can also be passed from mother to child during birth.

Control and Prevention of Gonorrhoea

• Gonorrhoea is caused by a bacterium, so it can be treated effectively with antibiotics.
• Prevention methods include:
  • Being faithful to your sexual partner
  • Using a male or female condom
  • Avoiding sexual contact if you think you may be infected and visiting a doctor
  • Notifying sexual partners if you are infected so they can be examined and treated
  • Not having sex until treatment is completed

Micro-organisms and Disease

• Micro-organisms can cause disease in humans.
• Examples of micro-organisms that cause disease include:
  • Bacteria (e.g., Salmonella typhi, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus ducreyi)
  • Viruses (e.g., HIV)
  • Parasites (e.g., tapeworms, Plasmodium)

Modern and Traditional Medicine in Ethiopia

• Modern medicine can help eliminate many diseases.
• Traditional medicines can also be beneficial for treating illnesses.
• Both modern and traditional medicine should work together to improve the health of everyone in Ethiopia.