Archive for December 26th, 2010

TYPES OF INFECTION: HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCUS INFECTIONS

Sunday, December 26th, 2010

The streptococcus is one of the most widely distributed and variable organisms that attacks mankind. Such conditions as sore throat, sinus infections, scarlet fever, erysipelas, puerperal fever, or lymphangitis may be caused by streptococci. Other conditions associated with such streptococci include acute rheumatic fever and acute inflammations of the kidney.
Such infections are found in all races, in both sexes, at all ages, and they come on at any time of the year. Scarlet fever is said to be rare in the tropics. Very small babies, under three months of age, seldom have streptococcal infections, because they get some immunity from their mothers at the time of birth. Tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and scarlet fever are more frequent up to ten years of age. Streptococcal infections can result from contaminated food, milk, water but most frequently pass from one person to another with coughing, sneezing, spitting and what are known as “hand-to-mouth” infections.
Tonsillitis and pharyngitis are usually streptococcal infections which begin with sore throats. When there is a rash, the rash is said to represent sensitivity of the skin to the products of the streptococcus; this condition is scarlet fever. Infections of the sinuses usually follow infection of the tonsils and throat. Ear infections occur in many cases and the streptococci are said to be responsible for ten per cent of ear infections. Specific methods of inoculation against streptococci are difficult because of the many different varieties of the germ. The Dick test will indicate whether or not a child is susceptible to the streptococcus of scarlet fever and there are methods of building resistance against these streptococci by inoculating small doses of the toxin.
Regardless of the portion of the body that is attacked by the streptococci, the control of the condition is now possible through the proper use of the sulfonamide and antibiotic drags. Streptococci are especially susceptible to attack by the sulfonamide drugs. The complications of infected throats are more important than the sore throat itself. Penicillin is the antibiotic drag most frequently used in treating throats infected with streptococci. Penicillin is especially beneficial in laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and scarlet fever. The complications of scarlet fever have in the past done more harm than the disease itself. In severe cases of scarlet fever convalescent serum may be used, and good results have been reported from use of the antitoxin.
Saline gargles and irrigations of the throat help to wash out the byproducts of throat infection. One of the most significant advances is the use of sulfonamide drags to prevent streptococcal infections. When there are outbreaks in large homes, in barracks, in asylums, or places where great numbers of people assemble, the sulfonamide drugs may be taken as a means of preventing infection with the streptococci. All sorts of attempts have been made to cut down respiratory diseases by the use of ultraviolet light in the air, by the spraying of medicated vapors or aerosols and by other techniques for keeping the germs from floating in the air. These, in general, have not been successful.
*3/318/5*

TYPES OF INFECTION: HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCUS INFECTIONSThe streptococcus is one of the most widely distributed and variable organisms that attacks mankind. Such conditions as sore throat, sinus infections, scarlet fever, erysipelas, puerperal fever, or lymphangitis may be caused by streptococci. Other conditions associated with such streptococci include acute rheumatic fever and acute inflammations of the kidney.Such infections are found in all races, in both sexes, at all ages, and they come on at any time of the year. Scarlet fever is said to be rare in the tropics. Very small babies, under three months of age, seldom have streptococcal infections, because they get some immunity from their mothers at the time of birth. Tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and scarlet fever are more frequent up to ten years of age. Streptococcal infections can result from contaminated food, milk, water but most frequently pass from one person to another with coughing, sneezing, spitting and what are known as “hand-to-mouth” infections.Tonsillitis and pharyngitis are usually streptococcal infections which begin with sore throats. When there is a rash, the rash is said to represent sensitivity of the skin to the products of the streptococcus; this condition is scarlet fever. Infections of the sinuses usually follow infection of the tonsils and throat. Ear infections occur in many cases and the streptococci are said to be responsible for ten per cent of ear infections. Specific methods of inoculation against streptococci are difficult because of the many different varieties of the germ. The Dick test will indicate whether or not a child is susceptible to the streptococcus of scarlet fever and there are methods of building resistance against these streptococci by inoculating small doses of the toxin.Regardless of the portion of the body that is attacked by the streptococci, the control of the condition is now possible through the proper use of the sulfonamide and antibiotic drags. Streptococci are especially susceptible to attack by the sulfonamide drugs. The complications of infected throats are more important than the sore throat itself. Penicillin is the antibiotic drag most frequently used in treating throats infected with streptococci. Penicillin is especially beneficial in laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and scarlet fever. The complications of scarlet fever have in the past done more harm than the disease itself. In severe cases of scarlet fever convalescent serum may be used, and good results have been reported from use of the antitoxin.Saline gargles and irrigations of the throat help to wash out the byproducts of throat infection. One of the most significant advances is the use of sulfonamide drags to prevent streptococcal infections. When there are outbreaks in large homes, in barracks, in asylums, or places where great numbers of people assemble, the sulfonamide drugs may be taken as a means of preventing infection with the streptococci. All sorts of attempts have been made to cut down respiratory diseases by the use of ultraviolet light in the air, by the spraying of medicated vapors or aerosols and by other techniques for keeping the germs from floating in the air. These, in general, have not been successful.*3/318/5*

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