Diseases And Infections example essay topic

Introduction Mononucleosis is a viral disease that affects those usually between the age of ten and thirty-five, although a person at any age can get the disease. This disease found in mainly adolescents and adults seems to only occur in those who escaped the Epstein-Barr virus infection in childhood. It is also known as Glandular Fever, because it affects the lymph nodes in the neck, arm pits and groin. It can last anywhere from one to two weeks to six to eight weeks, some people suffer from mononucleosis for months at a time, but as an individual it depends on your personal recuperation time.

Recuperation is a very slow process, which demands a lot of sleep and rest. Being sick for a length of time such as two weeks drains you of strength and energy and as well you lose a lot of your muscles. Balance can also become lost with such an illness, which requires time to develop. Causes Mononucleosis is known to be caused by the Epstein Barr virus (EBV), which can be passed by coughing, sneezing or saliva transfer, where it gets it's popular name, the 'kissing disease'; .

Much like chicken pox, most people don't receive mononucleosis a second time in their life, but it can happen. Relapses can occur, but are fairly uncommon. Although you can receive the disease very easily, mononucleosis is not highly contagious, according to the majority of sources. Symptoms There are many symptoms associated with infectious mononucleosis, but the symptoms all depend on the individual. The more common symptoms are fatigue, sore throat, swelling of the lymph nodes and malaise. There is usually a change in the white cells and serum of the blood, but it can only be detected by a special test, known as the Mono Spot or the heterophile test.

It is possible that the results of the test remain negative until a few weeks have passed after seeing some symptoms. It is very rare that the test results remain negative through out the duration of the disease. There are some more serious symptoms that may not be visible, such as the enlargement of the spleen and the inflammation of the liver. The enlargement of the spleen (see appendix) may not be detected by the doctor, but it is possible. It may cause a pain in the upper left abdominal located under the chest. If the spleen ruptures, it will require emergency surgery, which means removal.

Luckily, the removal of the spleen will not affect the rest of your body (similar to the removal of your appendix) and many people live a normal healthy life without their spleen. When diagnosed with Mononucleosis, the doctor usually informs you to avoid any sports, except swimming, because if you receive a blow to your spleen, it could rupture, requiring surgery. Enlargement of the spleen occurs in 2 out of every 3 cases and is not uncommon. Signs of a ruptured spleen include; pain in the left upper abdomen, feeling light headed, feeling like your heart is beating fast and hard, bleeding more easily than usual and having breathing trouble. The inflammation of the liver is detected by the blood tests taken and can be reduced by drinking lots and lots of fluids, to flush out the toxins. A patient can detect liver inflammation by nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite and jaundice.

It is also possible to obtain rash-like symptoms, similar to those of measles or scarlet fever. They can appear all over the body and are very itchy, much like hives. A cortisone cream applied in small amounts to the small bumps can reduce the itch and swelling. Severe scratching of the bumps can leave scars. In about 2% of all cases, pneumonia is present.

Encephalitis, meningitis or peripheral neuritis can occur, but is usually uncommon. In some cases, the upper eyelids can swell, which is a common finding among mono patients. In some cases, the urine may contain blood, but those are very rare cases. Treatment / Cure Infectious mononucleosis is a viral infection, which means that there is no medication that can be taken to cure the disease. The only way to get rid of mononucleosis is to receive medical attention and supervision. Most mono patients receive the following instructions (according to the University of Illinois): 1.

Obtain 10-12 hours of sleep a day. 2. Avoid contact sports. 3. Avoid alcohol.

4. Avoid social activities; limit activities to sleeping, eating, studying and, if able, classes. 5. Remain at home if fever develops. 6. Eat a well-balanced diet.

It is also recommended that you drink as many liquids as possible to reduce the common inflammation of the liver. You can receive antibiotics for the secondary bacterial infections of the throat, such as Strep throat. These will only combat the throat infection and not the Mononucleosis virus. Prevention As noted before, Mono is a viral infection with no cure or treatment, such as a vaccine.

To avoid contacting this disease, it is advised that you do not come in direct contact with a person already having the disease, especially when they have a fever, because that is when they are most infectious. It is said that the incubation period is between thirty and forty days, but it can vary depending on when the diagnosis occurs. It is possible to have the disease for several weeks and not even be aware that you have it. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control pain and fatigue, but avoid Aspirin, as it has been proven responsible for Rye's Syndrome in children. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is one way to prevent many diseases and infections, but Mono can occur in anyone who has come in contact with the virus. AppendixSpleenThe spleen is a fist-sized, spongy organ located behind the stomach (removed in this illustration), just under the diaphragm.

Part of the lymphatic system, the spleen is composed of two types of tissue. White pulp produces lymphocytes, which release antibodies into the bloodstream to combat infection. More prominent is the red pulp, in which macrophages filter broken cells, parasites, bile pigments, and other useless substances from the blood. Iron from broken red blood cells is stored in the spleen for later use. Despite this variety of functions, an injured or diseased spleen can be removed in adults without great consequence. Microsoft Illustration.