INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Viral - Hepatitis, Measles, HIV / AIDS, Flu (Influenza), Gastroenteritis, Viral Fever, Herpes, Chickenpox, Meningitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is swelling that happens when tissues of the body are injured or infected. It can damage your liver. This swelling and damage can affect how well your liver functions.
Hepatitis can be an acute (short-term) infection or a chronic (long-term) infection. Some types of hepatitis cause only acute infections. Other types can cause both acute and chronic infections.
HIV/AIDS
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV infects and destroys cells of your immune system, making it hard to fight off other diseases. When HIV has severely weakened your immune system, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Because HIV works backward to insert its instructions into your DNA, it is called a retrovirus.
AIDS is the final and most serious stage of an HIV infection. People with AIDS have very low counts of certain white blood cells and severely damaged immune systems. They may have additional illnesses that indicate that they have progressed to AIDS.
Without treatment, HIV infections progress to AIDS in about 10 years.
Influenza
The flu is an illness you get from the influenza virus. It causes symptoms like head and body aches, sore throat, fever and respiratory symptoms, which can be severe. Flu is most common in winter months, when many people can get sick at once (an epidemic).
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis means inflammation in your stomach and intestine. Inflammation makes these organs feel swollen and sore. It causes symptoms of illness, like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Gastroenteritis often happens when you get an infection in your gastrointestinal (Gl) tract. Bacteria and viruses can cause food poisoning and stomach flu infections. Chemicals can also cause gastroenteritis.
Infectious gastroenteritis is the most d common type. It's caused by an infection in your gastrointestinal tract (your stomach and/or intestines). Viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites may cause the infection.
Chemical gastroenteritis can happen if you ingest toxic chemicals, which can contaminate food and water sources. You can also get it from heavy doses of alcohol or drugs, including some medications.
Viral Fever
Acute viral infections caused by seasonal changes and infection in the environment are referred to as viral fever. A rise in normal body temperature is the most common symptom. During monsoon, this can affect people of all ages. The virus causes a higher-than-normal body temperature. Runny nose, coughing, nausea, exhaustion, and body aches are some of the symptoms that a person may suffer. With patience and supportive therapies like cold compresses and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, most viral diseases will improve. A high body temperature, on the other hand, may necessitate medical intervention.
Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is an inflammation of your meninges specifically caused by a viral infection. Your meninges are the areas surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
Viral meningitis is more common in young children than adults. It's also called aseptic meningitis.
Causes
Hepatitis
There are different types of hepatitis, with different causes:
Viral hepatitis is the most common type. It is caused by one of several viruses - hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E.
Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by heavy alcohol use
Toxic hepalitis can be caused by certain poisons, chemicals, medicines, or supplements
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic type in which your body's immune system attacks your liver. The cause is not known, but genetics and your environment may play a role.
Who is at risk for hepatitis?
The risks are different for the different types of hepatitis. For example, with most of the viral types, your risk is higher if you have unprotected sex. People who drink a lot over long periods of time are at risk for alcoholic hepatitis.
Measles
Measles is caused by paramyxovirus (RNA virus) infection.
Mode of spead is by droplet infection.
Incubation period of about 10 days.
Period of infectivity is from 4 days before and 2 days after the onset of rash. People with compromised immunity can continue to shed virus for the entire duration of illness.
HIV/AIDS
It's a myth that HIV only infects certain people. Anyone can get HIV if they're exposed to the virus. Having sex without a condom or sharing needles to inject drugs are the most common ways that HIV spreads.
Some populations are statistically more affected by HIV than others. Groups disproportionately affected by HIV include:
People who identify as gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (MSM).
Certain races such as people who are Black or Hispanic.
Those who exchange sex for money or other items are also at high risk for HIV infection.
Influenza
The influenza virus causes flu. Influenza A, B and C are the most common types that infect people. Influenza A and B are seasonal (most people get them in the winter) and have more severe symptoms. Influenza C doesn't cause severe symptoms and it's not seasonal — the number of cases stays about the same throughout the year.
H1N1 (“swine flu”) and bird flu are both subtypes of influenza A.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis happens when your immune system activates to defend your stomach and intestines from harm. It sends inflammatory cells to help fight infections and repair injured tissues.
This is usually a temporary (acute) response to a temporary threat or injury. It takes a short time to work, and then, the inflammation goes away. Longer-lasting (persistent) gastroenteritis is unusual.
Viral Fever
Viruses are a type of infectious agent that is very small. They invade and multiply throughout your body's cells
Viral sickness can be caused due to various viruses, including cold and flu viruses.
Food and drinks may be contaminated with deadly viruses. Swallowing the contaminated food can lead to some viral infections like norovirus and enteroviruses.
Viruses carried out by insects or animals can cause viral infections like fever and rabies.
Exchanging bodily fluids with the person who has viral infection can cause hepatitis B and HIV.
Due to low immunity babies and children have a high risk of getting infected with viral infections.
Elderly people are more prone to viral infections as they have very weak immune systems.
Getting in contact with the contaminated area can lead to viral infections.
Chicken pox
Chicken pox is caused by primary infection with varicella-zoster virus, also known as human herpes virus 3. Following primary infection virus remains latent; afterwards, re-activation gives rise to herpes zoster.
Mode of transmission is by droplet infection from the upper respiratory tract or from the discharge by ruptured lesions on the skin.
The incubation period is about 14-21 days.
The disease is contagious till pustules disappear.
Viral meningitis
Viruses that can cause meningitis include:
Non-polio enteroviruses (like those that cause hand, foot and mouth disease).
Herpes simplex virus.
Epstein-Barr virus, which also causes mononucleosis.
Varicella zoster virus, which can also cause chickenpox and shingles.
Mumps.
Measles.
Arboviruses, such as West Nile virus and Zika virus.
HIV.
Influenza viruses, which cause the flu.
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).
The kinds of viruses that cause viral meningitis usually spread from person to person. This can be through:
Coughing.
Sneezing.
Close contact.
Sharing food or personal items.
Touching contaminated surfaces.
Some causes of viral meningitis you get through the bite of an infected mosquito.
Symptoms
Hepatitis
Some people with hepatitis do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. If you do have symptoms, they may include:
Fever
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea and/or vomiting
Abdominal pain
Dark urine
Clay-colored bowel movements
Joint pain
Jaundice, yellowing of your skin and eyes
If you have an acute infection, your symptoms can start anywhere between 2 weeks to 6 months after you got infected. If you have a chronic infection, you may not have symptoms until many years later.
Measles
Catarrhal stage
The patient is highly infective during this stage.
Febrile onset with nasal catarrh, sneezing, conjunctival redness, watering of eyes, photophobia, conjunctivitis, malaise, irritability and cough.
Koplik's spots
Koplik's spots are small, red, irregular lesions on the buccal mucosa with blue-white centres. They appear 1-2 days before the onset of the maculopapular rash, and disappear 1-2 days after the appearance of the rash. They are best seen at the opening of the parotid duct (upper 2nd molar tooth). The lesions consist of vesicle formation and epithelial necrosis.
Exanthematous stage
Red, maculopapular rashes are first seen over the back of the ears and forehead, later spreading downwards over the face, neck, trunk and feet.
The malaise and fever subside as the rash fades that takes 4-5 days.
HIV/AIDS
You can have HIV without having any symptoms. This is why it's important to get tested even if you don't feel sick.
Sometimes you'll have flu-like symptoms when you first get infected with HIV. These can include:
Fever.
Chills.
Fatigue.
Sore throat.
Muscle aches.
Night sweats.
Rash.
Swollen lymph nodes.
Influenza
Symptoms of the flu usually come on quickly, and can include:
Fever.
Chills.
Body aches.
Cough.
Headache.
Sore throat.
Runny or stuffy nose (congestion).
Tiredness or feeling run down.
Diarrhea or vomiting (usually only in kids).
You may not have all of these symptoms.
Gastroenteritis
Symptoms involving your intestines (diarrhea, cramps), together with symptoms involving your stomach (nausea, vomiting) are the hallmarks of gastroenteritis. You'll know it if it's “coming out both ends.”
Gastroenteritis symptoms may include:
Diarrhea.
Nausea and vomiting.
Loss of appetite.
Abdominal pain and cramping.
Fever.
Chills.
Fatigue.
Body aches.
Viral fever
People may experience:
Muscle and joint pains
Headache
Fatigue
Sore throat
Running nose
High body temperature, up to 104 degrees
Swelling in face
Dehydration
Occasional chills
Eye redness
Skin rash
Chicken pox
The characteristic rash first appears on the trunk on the 2nd day of illness, and then the face, and finally on the limbs. The lesions are maximum on the trunk and minimum on the periphery of the limbs.
The characteristic lesions appear as macules and progress to papules, vesicles and putules. The lesions finally dry up to form scabs.
The lesions appear in crops so that lesions at all stages of development are seen in any area at the same time.
Low-grade fever is often present.
In immunocompromised patients the lesions are haemorrhagic and are numerous. Dissemination to other organs is quite frequent.
Viral meningitis
Symptoms of viral meningitis can come on suddenly and include:
Fever.
Chills.
Headache.
Neck stiffness.
Nausea or vomiting.
Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
Lack of appetite.
Difficulty focusing.
Double vision.
Sometimes, but not always, you'll have symptoms of a viral infection (like a runny nose, cough, body aches or rash) before meningitis symptoms start.
Treatments
Hepatitis
Medical management is the Basic treatment for any type of hepatitis. Whether hepatitis A, B, C, D or E it has huge scope in homeopathy. Proper acute medicine and constitutional treatment for each patient helps in curing this condition whether it is in acute or chronic state of disease respectively. Homeopathy helps in strengthening the immunity and liver health of the patient in long run. It helps in reducing the symptoms and prevents further progress of the disease.
Few homoeopathic medicines which help in such cases are Cardus marianus, chelidonium majus, phosphorus etc.
Factors that cause hepatitis of various kinds should be avoided in the first place to avoid this disease like outside contaminated food and water, unsafe sex etc. Here don’t write the line that says united states a b and c are common.
Measles
Measles being a viral infection requires acute treatment for killing the bacteria and removing the symptoms. Homeopathic acute remedies cures this infection quickly and gently. They also prevent the complications that would happen.
Few homoeopathic medications which help in such patients are belladona, apis mellifica, aconite etc.
HIV/AIDS
As homeopathy is a deep acting mode of medicine it helps in recovering these patients with HIV or AIDS to a great extent. Such patients can recover from all the symptoms and thus their vital markers are also well maintained. Further progress of disease and complications are also prevented.
Few homoeopathic medications which help in such patients are sulphur, lycopodium, Kali carb etc.
Influenza
Acute remedy works best in such cases. Homeopathy helps in curing these cases rapidly and also prevents complications. Homeopathy also helps in building immunity of the patient thus preventing recurrent infection in future.
Few homoeopathic medications which help in such patients are gelsemium, allium cepa, dulcamara etc.
Viral fever
Many a times few viral fevers of mild intensity settle down on its own in a day or two. But if fever is high grade or if it does not settle down within 3 days then medications are required.
Homoeopathy helps in recovering from these acute conditions by killing the virus and improving symptoms of the patients. The fever and other symptoms come down quickly be it in any age group from kids to old age patients.
Few homoeopathic medications which help in such patients are pulsatilla, belladona, china etc.
Taking proper rest, eating healthy home made food, avoiding cold food or drinks and drinking clean boiled water are few factors that has to taken care of while suffer from viral fever or infections.
Viral Meningitis
No treatment is required in majority of cases.
In cases where symptoms are severe or patients general condition is not well then medications are necessary. In such patients homeopathy helps in reducing the symptoms in intensity and quickly and also helps in building immunity. Future complications of Such infections can also be avoided by homeopathy.
Few homeopathic medications which help in such patients are rhus tox, belladona, antimonium crudum etc.
