Diseases Caused by Bacteria

Health, Biology

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria are the most primitive unicellular prokaryotic organisms which do not have a well-defined nucleus and are not enclosed within a nuclear membrane. In this article we are going to discuss only about Diseases Caused by Bacteria, If you want to read more about Bacteria Read here

Bacteria in brief ~ Read here
Useful Role of Bacteria ~ Read here
Harmful Role of Bacteria ~ Read here

Disease caused by Bacteria

Diseases Caused by Bacteria

Tuberculosis

Incubation Period	2–10 weeks
Mode of Transmission	Air, dust or the sputum of an infected person

Symptoms
1. Wasting of the body occurs, resulting in loss of resistance and weakness 2. Loss of appetite and weight

Prevention Measures
1. The patient should be kept in isolation 2. BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) vaccine should be administered

Cholera

Incubation Period	Few hours to 6 days
Mode of Transmission	Contaminated water, food and drinks; spread by flies

Symptoms
Severe stomach ache, diarrhoea with white, watery and foul smelling faecal waste and vomiting

Prevention Measures
1. Control of houseflies 2. Personal hygiene, cleanliness of the surroundings and consumption of well-cooked, nutritious food 3. Anti-cholera injection

Tetanus

Incubation Period	4–20 days
Mode of Transmission	Cuts or wounds in the skin; enters through the blood into the spinal cord

Symptoms
1. Painful contractions or spasms of muscles of neck and jaw 2. Body becomes rigid and may eve

Prevention Measures
1. Wounds and cuts should be cleaned immediately 2. Anti-tetanus vaccine should be given

Syphilis

Incubation Period	1–12 weeks
Mode of Transmission	Sexually transmitted or close contact

Symptoms
1. Skin rash; ulcers on the penis, rectum, lips, tongue and nipples 2. Fever

Prevention Measures
1. Avoid sexual contact with an infected person 2. Treatment of antibiotics, especially that of penicillin

Diphtheria

Incubation Period	2–10 days
Mode of Transmission	Droplet infection while coughing and sneezing, contact

Symptoms
Patient experiences pain in the throat, fever and difficulty in breathing

Prevention Measures
1.DPT vaccine 2. Isolation of the patient

Typhoid

Incubation Period	7–21 days
Mode of Transmission	Contaminated water, milk, through flies

Symptoms
1. Fever is usually high, especially in the afternoon, accompanied by cold 2. Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and constipation 3. Rose-coloured rashes or eruptions appear on the chest and abdomen

Prevention Measures
1. Personal hygiene and cleanliness of the surroundings 2. Typhoid vaccine should be given

Whooping cough

Incubation Period	10–15 days
Mode of Transmission	Contact, droplet infection of the throat

Symptoms
1. Fever, cold with running nose and irritating cough 2. Whoop is developed at the end of cough as a sudden bout of noisy breath 3. Vomiting after injection of food

Prevention Measures
DPT vaccine or triple antigen is commonly given

Pneumonia

Incubation Period	1–3 days
Mode of Transmission	Contact or by air

Symptoms
1. Difficulty in breathing 2. Water accumulates in the lung

Prevention Measures
Avoid fatigue, malnutrition and contact

Leprosy

Incubation Period	Several years
Mode of Transmission	Contact, highly contagious

Symptoms
Nervous loss of sensation, paralysis and deformity

Prevention Measures
1. Vaccination 2. Good nutrition and sanitation

Gonorrhoea

Incubation Period	3–10 days
Mode of Transmission	Sexual contact

Symptoms
1. Pain during urination 2. Pus-like discharge in genital tubes

Prevention Measures
Avoid sexual contact with an infected person

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