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What Are The Types Of Smallpox

admin — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The acute contagious disease known as smallpox is from the orthopoxvirus family. All forms of this disease are spread through inhalation and it localizes in the throat and mouth. It surfaces as a rash over the body and then blisters. The disease shows in two main forms throughout human history. The less deadly form, with a one per cent fatality rate, is called variola minor. The deadliest form is called variola major, which has had a fatality rate of thirty per cent in it’s victims.

There are two rare forms of the disease, both being fatal. I found some more information here. Haemorrhagic smallpox is a form that produces haemorrhaging into the skin and mucus membraines. Malignant smallpox is a form that causes flat lesions over the body.

Smallpox without a rash has been found in individuals that have already received the smallpox vaccine. This version is called variola sine eruptione. After the usual incubation period of the infectious disease only a fever may surface. The presence of this version of the infectious disease can only be confirmed by antibody studies. Subclinical infection, which is an infection without symptoms, was noted on rare occasions. The smallpox disease in all it’s forms was finally eradicated in 1978.

Is There A Vaccine For Smallpox

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Smallpox is an infection that is highly contagious. Smallpox can be spread through coughing, sneezing or contact with the scabs from the rash. Signs of Smallpox include a high fever, fatigue and body aches. A few days after these symptoms occur a rash will break out all over the body. Over the next few weeks the red spots from the rash will fill with pus, scab over and eventually fall off.
There is no known cure for Smallpox. The recommended treatment is to drink plenty of fluids and take an over the counter medication for aches and pains.
There is a vaccine for Smallpox. The vaccine will protect you for about 3-5 years and then a booster vaccine is recommended. The vaccine is also known to be effective to people who have been exposed to Smallpox as long as they get the vaccine within 3 days of exposure.
The Smallpox vaccine is not routinely given to children along with their other shots. This is something you would have to discuss with your physician. Certain high risk groups such as Military personnel and laboratory workers who come in contact with the virus.
There has not been a documented case of Smallpox since 1977.

When And Where Was Smallpox First Discovered

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

It is believed that smallpox originated 10,000 years ago in Africa. Since then it has managed to spread to the rest of the nations of the world. It is recorded in history that King Pharaoh Ramses V died from a smallpox infection in the year 1156 BC. There are also other popular occurrences of the virus found in China and India. These occurrences all happened during the BC periods.

The first medically documented case of smallpox was recorded in 1350 B.C. during the war period between the Hittites and the Egyptians.The whole story can be found at http://theadequatemother.wordpress.com/2012/04/22/how-terrified-we-might-have-been-for-our-children-had-there-not-have-been-an-edward-jenner/ The virus then spread to Athens, Greece by 430 BC. The smallpox then spread to the Roman Empire around 180 AD causing great devastation. European nations and the western hemisphere soon felt the wrath of the smallpox disease.

Smallpox, since its inception is almost eradicated from the earth by method of vaccination. However, there are still active copies of the virus held by disease control centers. The first vaccination method for smallpox was introduced in 1796 by Edward Jenner. Evidence of the smallpox disease starting in Africa can be correlated based on the smallpox injuries that are still observable on the mummified bodies of some Egyptians buried in the BC time period.

What Is The Mortality Rate Of Smallpox

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

A highly contagious disease, smallpox is caused from the variola virus. The disease can be traced back over 3,000 years to ancient Egypt and India. It has been known to kill as many at 30 percent of the those infected. The remaining survivors are often heavily scarred with pock-marks and some suffer permanent blindness.

Two forms of smallpox exist: variola major and variola minor. Both varieties produce similar skin lesions. The mortality rate of variola minor is only 1 percent of those infected, but the mortality rate of variola major has remained at 30 percent throughout history. Within the category of variola major are two various forms of pustules, haemorrhagic and malignant. Haemorrhagic pustules rupture into the mucous membranes and the skin. Malignant smallpox never reaches the pustule stage. The lesions appear soft and relatively smooth. Despite the differences in the lesions, both types remain invariably fatal.

Without proper vaccinations, humans remain highly susceptible to smallpox. The vaccine must be administered within four days of exposure to prevent infection. The WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research has determined that the only way to successfully prevent and smallpox is through vaccination. Once smallpox is contracted, there is no cure. Whatâ€™s 1 more click? Your boss isnâ€™t watching… Smallpox, Confucius and The Fountain of Youth- Trivia From Books Read This Week.

What Is Smallpox And How Does It Spread

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Smallpox is a now eradicated infectious disease that can be potentially deadly. Over the years with the help of immunizations the infectious disease is now eliminated It is caused by the variola virus which comes in two forms which are variola major and variola minor. Variola major was the cause of the fatal form of smallpox, which had a fatality rate of 30%. The minor form is a less fatal form of the disease with a fatality rate of about 1%.

Smallpox is spread very easily and is highly contagious. It is transmitted from person to person thorough the air.This{{/tag} helps explain it more. Smallpox can also be transmitted through close contact and saliva. When a person is infected with the variola virus, the disease spreads and multiplies within the body. Once this occurs symptoms begin to show and health begins to deteriorate. Smallpox is most contagious when symptoms begin to appear. Symptoms include blisters, skin rash, mouth sores and flu like symptoms such as fatigue and headaches.

Overall smallpox was a very serious infectious disease. Centuries ago, it killed many people. Luckily, vaccines and immunizations have been made in order to avoid such an outbreak across the world again. The last case of smallpox was reported in Somalia in 1977.