List of ten important bacterial diseases: 1. Pulmonary Tuberculosis 2. Diphtheria 3. Cholera 4. Leprosy 5. Pertussis 6. Tetanus 7. Plague 8. Gonorrhoea 9. Syphilis 10. Salmonellosis.

Bacterial Disease # 1. Pulmonary Tuberculosis:

Pathogen – Mycobacterium tuberculae

Epidemiology –  Airborne & Droplet infection

Incubation Period – 2-10 weeks

Symptoms – Coughing; chest pain and bloody sputum with tuberculin.

Prophylaxis – BCG vaccine Isolation, Health education.

Therapy – Streptomycin, para-amino salicylic acid, rifampicin etc.

Bacterial Disease # 2. Diphtheria:

Pathogen – Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Epidemiology – Airborne & Droplet infection

Incubation Period – 2-6 days

Symptoms – Inflammation of mucosa of nasal chamber, throat etc. respiratory tract blocked.

Prophylaxis – DPT vaccine.

Therapy – Diphtheria antitoxins, Penicillin, Erythromycin.

Bacterial Disease # 3. Cholera:

Pathogen – Vibrio cholerae

Epidemiology – Direct & oral (with contaminated food & water)

Incubation Period – 6 hours to 2 – 3 days

Symptoms – Acute diarrhoea & dehydration.

Prophylaxis – Sanitation, boiling of water & cholera vaccine.

Therapy – Oral rehydration therapy & tetracycline.

Bacterial Disease # 4. Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease):

Pathogen – Mycobacterium leprae

Epidemiology – Slowest infectious & contagious

Incubation Period – 2-5 years

Symptoms – Skin hypopigmentation, nodulated skin, deformity of fingers & toes. Lepromin in skin tests.

Prophylaxis – Isolation.

Therapy – Dapsone, rifampicin, Clofazimine.

Bacterial Disease # 5. Pertussis (Whooping Cough):

Pathogen – Bordetella pertussis

Epidemiology – Contagious & Droplet infection

Incubation Period – 7-14 days

Symptoms – Whoops during inspiration.

Prophylaxis – DPT vaccine.

Therapy – Erythromycin.

Bacterial Disease # 6. Tetanus (Lock Jaw):

Pathogen – Clostridium tetani

Epidemiology – Through injury

Incubation Period – 3-21 days

Symptoms – Degeneration of motor neurons, rigid jaw muscles, spasm and paralysis.

Prophylaxis – ATS and DPT vaccines.

Therapy – Tetanus- antitoxins.

Bacterial Disease # 7. Plague:

Pasteurella (or Yersinia) pestis

Epidemiology – Indirect & inoculative (vector is rat flea)

Incubation Period – 2-6 days

Symptoms – Bubonic plague affects lymph nodes; Pneumonic plague affects lungs and Septicemic plague causes anaemia.

Prophylaxis – Killing of rats & ratfleas, Plague- vaccine.

Therapy – Tetracycline, streptomycin, Chloromycetin.

Bacterial Disease # 8. Gonorrhoea:

Pathogen – Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Epidemiology – Sexual transmission

Incubation Period – 2-10 days

Symptoms – Inflammation of urinogenital tract.

Prophylaxis – Avoid prostitution.

Therapy – Penicillin & Ampicillin.

Bacterial Disease # 9. Syphilis:

Pathogen – Treponema pallidum 

Epidemiology – Sexual transmission

Incubation Period – 3 weeks

Symptoms – Inflammation of urinogenital tract.

Prophylaxis – Avoid prostitution.

Therapy – Tetracycline & penicillin.

Bacterial Disease # 10. Salmonellosis:

Pathogen – Salmonella enteridis.

Epidemiology – Direct & oral

Incubation Period – 48 hours

Symptoms – Diarrhoea.

Prophylaxis – Isolation.

Therapy – Antibiotics.

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