Smallpox's Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, Treatment
Smallpox was a serious disease caused by the smallpox virus. It caused a severe rash that often left disfiguring scars. About 1 in 3 people who contracted smallpox died. Smallpox has been eradicated since 1980. There have been no cases since 1978. Smallpox was the first disease for which there was a vaccine.
About smallpox:
Smallpox was a serious disease that killed hundreds of millions before it was eradicated. It caused a hard, blistering rash that often left disfiguring scars. About 1 in 3 people who got smallpox died from it. Starting in the 1960s, the World Health Organization (WHO) led efforts to stop the spread of smallpox around the world. By vaccinating and controlling outbreaks, they rid the world of smallpox. It was eradicated in 1980. The last natural case was in 1977.
Current status of smallpox
Smallpox no longer exists in humans nor is it spread naturally. There have not been any cases of smallpox in the last 50 years. Two laboratories (one in the United States and one in Russia) hold stocks of the virus that causes smallpox for research purposes only.
How smallpox was eradicated
Only humans get smallpox. It is not spread by animals or insects. This means fewer ways to get infected.
It was easy to identify. All of those with smallpox had symptoms, including a characteristic rash. No one carried smallpox without knowing it (no asymptomatic carrier).
It spread relatively slowly. Smallpox was usually not contagious until an infected person was too sick to be around many other people. It usually spreads between people who live in the same house. Ring vaccination contained outbreaks. Because it spreads only among close contacts, health officials could contain smallpox outbreaks with "ring vaccines." This meant vaccinating only those who had been close to a recently infected person (a "ring" of contacts).
It has been around for thousands of years. Smallpox survivors already had immunity. This meant fewer people needed to be vaccinated to stop the spread.
symptoms of smallpox:
- High fever.
- Severe headache.
- Backache.
- Vomiting.
- Rash that begins in the mouth and spreads to the face and then to the rest of the body.
- Sores, then hard pustules that form from the rash.
- Stomachache.
- Extreme fatigue and weakness.
The first symptoms to appear are fever, headache and tiredness. They last two to four days, although the fever may persist or return after the rash appears. Then the rash goes through stages, each lasting several days.
smallpox looks like that:
The smallpox rash begins on the mouth and face and quickly covers most of the body. It starts as a rash and ends with hard bumps that turn into scabs. With the most common type of smallpox, the rash goes through several stages.
early teething. After the initial symptoms, a rash appears on the tongue, as well as in the mouth and throat. Red spots in the mouth turn into open sores.
The rash spreads. The rash spreads to the face, and then to the arms, legs, back and trunk. In about a day, it spreads throughout the body, including the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Bumps on the skin are filled with pus (thick liquid). There may be a dent in the middle of each bump. The cones take about two days to fill with liquid.
Pimples and scabs. Bumps turn into pustules (hard round bumps). Over the next 10 days, scabs form on the pustules.
The scab dissolves. In about a week, the scabs fall off, leaving scars.
Types of smallpox
There are several types of smallpox, the symptoms of which are slightly different:
Common smallpox. Smallpox was the most common type of smallpox and caused the symptoms described above. This caused about 85% of cases. About 1 in 3 people with smallpox die.
Smallpox of the modified type. People who were vaccinated sometimes contracted a modified type of smallpox. It was similar to common smallpox, but the rash was less severe and did not last as long. Most people survived modified smallpox.
Smallpox of the flat type (malignant). Smallpox of the flat type caused more severe initial symptoms than usual natural smallpox. The rash bumps fused together and never hardened or filled with fluid. This caused a flat, smooth rash that did not scab over. Smallpox was more common in children. It was almost always fatal.
hemorrhagic smallpox, hemorrhagic smallpox was more common in pregnant women. This caused severe initial symptoms. Usually, the rash does not harden and does not fill with fluid. Instead, the skin beneath her bled, making her look black or burned. It also caused internal bleeding and organ failure. Hemorrhagic smallpox was almost always fatal.
Causes of Smallpox:
The chickenpox virus causes smallpox. There are two variants of smallpox: variola major and variola minor. Variola major caused the most smallpox cases and the greatest number of deaths. Variola minor causes similar but less severe symptoms. It was fatal in only 1% of cases, compared to more than 30% for chickenpox.
How did smallpox spread?
Smallpox is transmitted through close personal contact. For example, a person with smallpox can transmit it through coughing or talking to someone close to them. It could also be transmitted through contact with contaminated objects (such as sheets or clothing).
Why was smallpox so fatal?
While experts aren't sure how smallpox caused the deaths, it's likely due to a combination of factors, including:
Large amounts of the virus damage and kill cells (cytotoxicity).
Renal insufficiency.
Damage to the lungs in pneumonia. This causes shortness of breath and lack of oxygen in the tissues.
hypovolemic shock.
Loss of blood and organ failure in hemorrhagic smallpox.
A vaccine to prevent Smallpox
Although vaccines can protect people against smallpox, they are not available to the general public. Only people who work in a laboratory with the varicella virus should get the vaccine. The vaccine is generally safe. But it caused serious side effects and complications, including heart problems and even death.
Since no case of smallpox has been reported since the late 1970s, health professionals don't think it's worth vaccinating everyone because of the risks of side effects. In the event of a natural outbreak of smallpox, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has enough smallpox vaccine to cover all residents of the United States.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
For centuries, smallpox was one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Nowadays, most of us don't even have to think about it. For almost half a century, no one was sick with smallpox. And thanks to public health efforts, even in the unlikely event of a future outbreak, the U.S. is prepared with treatments and vaccines.
NB: When the smallpox is cured, wash all the child's clothes, sheets, towels in hot soapy water. After 5-6 days after infection with smallpox, neem leaves and turmeric should be mixed and applied to the whole body, as well as take a bath for 4-5 days. Alternatively, boil neem leaves in water for a few days and take a bath. There are special lotions to remove chickenpox scars.
Post a Comment