Vector Borne Diseases Overview

Vector Borne Diseases

• Anthrax:

  • Causative agent: Bacillus anthracis spores
  • Incubation period: 1-6 days
  • Clinical presentation: Edema with pruritic macules and papules, eschar, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic mediastinitis.
  • Diagnostics: Patient history, chest X-ray, CT scan, blood and tissue culture, CSF analysis.
  • Medical management: Penicillin, Erythromycin, Gentamicin. Prophylaxis: Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin for 60 days.

• Ascariasis:

  • Causative agent: Ascaris lumbricoides roundworm
  • Clinical presentation: Periumbilical pain, RUQ pain, colicky and cramping abdominal pain, palpable intestinal obstruction.
  • Extraintestinal infection: Rales, hemoptysis.
  • Diagnostics: Fecalysis (Kato-Katz technique), abdominal X-ray.
  • Medical management: Albendazole, Mebendazole, Piperazine citrate.

• Pediculosis (Head Lice):

  • Causative agent: Pediculus humanus capitis
  • Clinical presentation: Head itching, minute red spots, skin crusting, excoriation, generalized itching of affected region.
  • Diagnostics: Physical assessment.
  • Medical management: 1% malathion powder, gamma benzene hexachloride shampoo (for head lice).

• Pediculosis (Body Lice):

  • Causative agent: Pediculus humanus corporis
  • Clinical presentation: Generalized itching of affected region.
  • Diagnostics: Physical assessment.
  • Medical management: Good hygiene, boiling and laundering of clothing.

• Pediculosis (Pubic Lice):

  • Causative agent: Pthirus pubis
  • Clinical presentation: Generalized itching of affected region.
  • Diagnostics: Physical assessment.
  • Medical management: Kwell or gamene (Lindane) cream.

• Rabies:

  • Causative agent: Rhabdovirus
  • Clinical presentation: Prodromal/invasion-fever, anorexia, malaise, sore throat, copious salivation, lacrimation. Neurological-muscle excitability, fasciculation, mental depression, melancholia, pain on the bite site, mild dysphagia, apprehension, delirium, maniacal behavior, severe pain in muscles, hydrophobia, acrophobia, hyperptyalism, photophobia, autonomic paralysis.
  • Diagnostics: Antibody-most definitive diagnostic procedure such as Negri bodies in the brain tissue.
  • Medical management: Soap and running water, Rabies vaccine, Rabies immunoglobulin (passive immunity), Tetanus antitoxin.

Schistosomiasis

• Causative agents: Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium.
• Clinical presentation: Pruritic rash (summer itch), low-grade fever, myalgia, cough, abdominal discomfort, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, bloody mucoid stool, jaundice.
• Complications: Liver cirrhosis, cor pulmonale, portal hypertension, heart failure, internal renal failure.
• Diagnostics: Fecalysis (Kato-Katz technique), liver or rectal biopsy, ELISA, Circumoval precipitin test (confirmatory).
• Medical management: Praziquantel for 6 months.