2. Plan
1. İntroduction to smallpox
2. Smallpox Causes
3. Types of smallpox
4. Smallpox signs and symptons
5 Smallpox diagnosis
6.Smallpox treatment
7.Smallpox vaccine
8.Smallpox prevention
3. Introduction
Smallpox is disease caused by a poxvirus that is transmitted from person
to person that causes high fever, characteristic rash. And may kill about
one-third of those infected. Smallpox also called variola
Due to the success of an intense worldwide public health intiative, not
one documented naturally occurring case of this highly infectious,
deadly disease has occurred since Oct 26, 1977. (An unvaccined
hospital cook in Somalia was the last person to naturally contract
smallpox) The World Health Organization (WHO) officialy declared
smallpox eradicated in 1980.
4. Smallpox causes;
Variola(the viruses that causes to smallpox) is a member of the orthopoxvirus
genus, which also includes viruses that cause cowpox, monkeypox, or and
molluscum contagiosum. Poxviruses are largest animal viruses, visible with a
light microscope. They are larger than some bacteria and contain double-
stranded DNA.
Before smallpox was wiped out the disease survived through continual person-to-
person transmission. Pregnant women and children had a heightened risk for the
illness. Smallpox also effected them more severely than normal. The virus is only
transmitted human to human; there are no known animal infection. Virus
particles can remain on such items as clothing,bedding, and surfaces for up to 1
week
5. Types of Smallpox
Variola major or smallpox has a death rate of 30%.
Variola minor of the virus has death rate of 1%.
Four types of variola exists: classic, hemorrhagic,
malignant and modified.
Classic smallpox is believed to be the most
communicable disease: about 30%
unvaccinable person who come in contact
with it become infected.
The hemorrhagic variety of variola has a much higher death rate (95%) than classic
smallpox and leads to death more quickly. Infected people often dies before the
pustules form. This variety is recognizable by certain types of bleeding sores in mucous
tissues. Compherensive studies documenting almost 7000 cases of variola found 200
people had this form of the disease (192 died). Pregnant women are more likely to
contract this version.
6. Prior to eradiction, the malignant or flat form of
smallpox affected 6% of the population and evolved
more slowly than the classic type. Lesions were flat,
often described as feeling velvety. The death of rate
for this form approaches 100&
The modified variety of smallpox essentially affects
people who have been vaccinated and still have
some immune response to the vaccine. In a
vaccinated population, this version colud affect
about 15%
7. Smallpox sings and symptoms
After infection, syptoms may take from seven to 17 days to appear
for major types of smallpox. People who have contacted smallpox
initially develop such symptoms as fever, body aches, chills, and
particularly backache.
When the rash appears the virus is highky contagious as it
moves into the mucous membranes. The body sheds the cells
and virus particles are released, coughed, or sneezed into the
eviroment. The infected person can be infectious for up to 3
weeks (until the scabs fall off the rash). Live virus can be present
in the scabs. After the scabs or crusts fall off (in 2 to 4 weeks) a
depression or light skinned scar remains.
8. Smallpox diagnosis
Initial diagnosis of smallpox is most likely
based on a history and physical examination
findings; any person suspected of having the
disease need to be isolated, people caring for
the patient should use strict isolation-barrier
techniques to protect themselves and others
from exposure and local, state and national
health authorities should be informed
immediately
The doctor may take a throat swab to make the diagnosis
of smallpox. A sample from a freshly opened pustule may
also be useful in diagnosis. For suspected cases of
hemorrhagic smallpox, the doctor may sample fluid from
a spinal tap ( lumbar puncture) may be visible within the
cells, This is also evidence of smallpox infection
9. Smallpox treatment
In the hospital emergency department, a suspected
smallpox victim is isolated. All emergency medical serviced
and hospital personnel exposed to someone with smallpox
require quarantine and vaccination if they have not been
previously vaccinated.
Quarantine;
The infected person and anyone who has come into contact with
infected person for up to 17 days prior to illness (including the
treating doctor and nursing staff) may be required to remain in
isolation until a definite diagnosis is made. If the suspected case
is indeed smallpox. These individuals will have to remain in
isolation for at least 17 days to ensure that they are not also
infected with the virus
10. Smallpox prevention
Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing smallpox
infection. Vaccination can even be administered up to 4 or 5 days
after a person is exposed to the virus. This practice may not
completely prevent disease, but probably it will result in a
significantly less severe case of the illness.
Smallpox Vaccine;
There are no pills that can treat smallpox, but scientists are doing research
to try to develop medicine for the disease. If someone does become
infected with the smallpox virus, getting the vaccine within a few days or
becoming infected can lessen the disease’s symptoms.
The vaccina (smallpox) vaccine and vaccinie immune globulin (VIG) are
available only through the CDC and state health agencies. The calf lymph
vaccine is the only one still available although a replacement vaccinia
vaccine produced from the cell cultures is under development.