Small Pox

Small Pox

Small pox, which was once the most feared disease known by mankind started out in the days of Christopher Columbus. The disease set out to change the lives of the people in the worse way. It became known as an epidemic disease that ended up killing hundreds of people. Small pox started out in Hispaniola and because of no cure, it traveled to the island of Puerto Rico, and then Cuba.

It was only a matter of time until it spread to the mainland, somewhere in

America. In the Middle Ages, small pox was a highly contagious disease which often lead to death if not treated. In this term paper you will read and learn about the causes, symptoms and treatments of this horrible disease.

Small pox which was often refereed to as a life threatening disease, is caused by a virus, which was not discovered until the nineteenth century. Most of the victims whom acquired small pox, was a result of face to face contact.

It is passed through the nose where tiny particles are released when the infected person sneezes, also by the mouth where particles are once again ejected when the victim coughs. The disease can be transmitted by dried small pox scabs and through materials the infected person has come in contact with.

The virus is reproduced in the lymphoid tissue and released into the body.

Virus reproduction begins when the virion comes into contact with a suitable host cell. The virus must interact with a receptor on the cell surface. The infectious cycle usually consists of two stages. The first stage makes the proteins necessary for the protein to form. The second stage forms the adult virion to start the attack on the body. Smallpox attack with no warning.

There are several painful symptoms that are brought upon by this disease.

In most of the cases, symptoms in a new victim will occur ten to twelve days later. Patients will develop chills, high fever, and nausousness. The fevers may reach up to 105 degrees farenht. In three or four days later a rash erupts and the fever and discomfort may subside. It begins on the face, then spreading to the chest, arms, back and finally the legs. It consists of hard red lumps which become pimple like, swelling and containing puss. "The pustules gave the disease its name, by which it was first known in the west as Variola" (Giblin

59). This rash itches severely but scratching must be avoided in order to prevent an...

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...The vaccination contained the virus that causes cowpox, this disease is similar to small pox but a milder form. This causes the production of antibodies that give protection against both cowpox and small pox.

There is no specific treatment for small pox. Due to the disease being so contagious, patients need to be isolated until they are completely recovered.

The sores must be kept clean and penicillin and sulfa medications are sometimes given to prevent further infections. However, after a person has come across the disease and recovers from it they become permanently immune to the virus.

Jenner later promoted the smallpox vaccination and ultimately wiped the virus clear out. Since then there has only been one case of smallpox but they are not certain that it really was the smallpox virus or just a clone of a chicken pox virus. Vaccinations only work depending on ones immune system if it is weak the vaccine will not take.

The number of small pox infected countries gradually decreased. " In

April 1978, WHO ( world health organization) officials announced the world's last known case of naturally occurring small pox had been found in Somalia in

October 1977" ( Fetzer 513).