Variola - Symptoms and Treatment

Variola is a contagious, disfiguring and often deadly disease caused by the variola virus. Variola is a highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease that is caused by infection with the variola virus. Smallpox infection was eliminated from the world in 1977. It has been around for thousands of years and has been associated with many deadly epidemics. Variola has been a greatly feared disease because it was responsible for huge epidemics. Variola is a very serious infection which is caused by a virus named variola, which is a member of the poxvirus family. It is estimated that smallpox is 20-60% fatal, while many survivors are left blind and scars from smallpox are nearly universal. It was so named because the pocks were small and the disease was seen as less than the "great pox" (syphilis). The other type, V. minor, only kills 1% of its victims. It is characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars. Small pox gets its name from the pus-filled blisters (or pocks) that form during the illness. Although people are concerned that the smallpox virus might be used as a weapon, this would be difficult for anyone to do.

Causes of Variola

Common Causes of Variola :

• Exposure to viruses of the Poxviridae family can also causes these infections.
• The variola is mainly caused by virus called- variola major and minor virus .
• Smallpox also can spread through contact with contaminated clothing and bedding , although the risk of infection from these sources is slight.
• The virus usually entered the body through the respiratory (breathing) tract . It is then passed through an incubation period of twelve to fourteen days. During this time, the virus was multiplying within the body and moving through the bloodstream.

Symptoms of Variola

Some common Symptoms of Variola :

• Fever.
• Headache.
• Severe fatigue.
• Severe back pain.
• Malaise.
• Skin eruptions.
• Fatigue.
• Excessive bleeding.
• Muscle and joint pain.

Treatment of Variola

Some common Treatment of Variola :

• Vaccine immune globulin is used to treat variola.
• If the fever rises above 103 F, reduce it by means of tepid sponges and tepid enemas .
• If the smallpox vaccination is given within 1-4 days of exposure to the disease, it may prevent illness, or at least lessen the degree of illness associated with the disease.
• Cidofovir may have some activity against these poxviruses.
• Hot fomentations can partially relieve pain in the legs and back.
• Sometimes antibiotics are given for secondary infections that may occur.
• Give high herb enemas and clean out the bowels .
• The exposed persons would need to be isolated immediately .
• When the skin is hot and dry , give him fluids every hour until there is free perspiration. Environmental factors such as air pollutants , cold and dry air are among the commonest causes of xerosis.

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