Varicella Zoster Virus - The Chicken Pox virus

Varicella Zoster Virus - VZV is the virus which is responsible for causing chickenpox on children and Herpes Zoster infection (shingles) in adults. VZV is one of eight Herpes virus known to us.
Primary HZV infection results in Chicken Pox, which can sometimes very rarely turn into complications such as encephalitis or pneumonia. Even when Chicken pox infection is resolved VZV tends to remain dormant in the nervous system of the infected individual. In some cases VZV reactivates to cause a condition called Shingles or Herpes Zoster.
VZV can be treated with acyclovir for the chicken pox, famciclovir, valaciclovir for the shingles, zoster-immune globulin (ZIG), and vidarabine. VZV immune globulin is also a treatment.

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Rotavirus- Virus which causes peadiatric gastroenteritis.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of moderate to severe diarrhoea in infants and young children, Rotavirus is predominantly one of the viruses which are responsible for the symptoms which we commonly know as the stomach flu. The Rotavirus is a double stranded RNA virus, there are 5 species of this virus which are categorically referred to as A,B,C,D and E. Rotavirus A is the one which causes most of the human based infections.
The Virus generally is transmitted through  oral or faecal routes, the virus thus transmitted damages the cells that line the small intestine and causes from moderate to acute gastroenteritis. Rotavirus infections are are mostly limited to infants and young kids. The most common problem of a Rotavirus infection is the dehydration of the afflicted human due to Severe vomitting, watery diarrhoea and mild fever.
Treatment is generally connected with treating the symptoms and keeping the infected person hydrated.In some severe cases the electrolyte levels and blood sugar levels are monitored.

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Chlamydia trachomatis - Cause of STDs and Blindness.

Chlamydia Trachomatis is a Gram negative obligate intracellular bacterium , which means it lives with in the human cells and largely responsible for sexually transmitted diseases and eye disease. The bacterium is coccoid or rod shaped.
C.Trachomatis causes prostatitis and epididymitis in men. In women they are responsible for cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and acute or recurring pelvic pain and recurring complications.
Not only is it responsible for these diseases but C.Trachomatis is the single most potent bacterial infection of the eye which is associated with blindness, in the form of  bacterial conjuctivitis.
Chlamydia Trachomatis can be effectively treated with antibiotics such as azithromycin, erythromycin or doxycycline/tetracycline.

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Vibrio Cholerae - The causative agent of Cholera

Vibrio Cholerae also known sometimes as kommabacillus, is a comma shaped Gram negative bacteria with a polar flagella. This bacteria causes as the name suggests, Cholera in human beings.

The bacteria is generally infected through contaminated water, most bacteria dont survive the acidity of the stomach, but the bacterias which do survive propel themselves through the thick mucus to reach intestinal walls  by growing the flagella, they rotate through the walls to lodge themselves and thrive here. On reaching the intestinal walls they start producing toxic proteins which in turn gives the carrier of the bacteria watery diarrhea.

Treatment of V.Choerae infection is mostly 3 pronged approach, by Oral rehydration therapy, by maintaining electrolyte levels and by the use of antibiotics, such as Doxycycline as firstline and cotrimoxazole, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and furazolidone.

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Helicobacter Pylori - Microaerophilic bacteria.

Helicobacter Pylori, commonly known as H.pylori and further referred to as H.Pylori is a gram negative bacteria. It generally inhabits various areas of the human stomach and is responsible for chronic low level inflammation of the stomach lining and is the principle factor in development of duodenal,gastric ulcers and stomach cancer.
If H.Pylori infection is untreated for a long time it will lead serious illnesses such as gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD), peptic ulcers, and cancers of esophagus and stomach.
H.Pylori is a helix shaped bacterium, it is microaerophilic thus making it an organism which needs oxygen but at a lower concentration, for colonising the stomach and surviving the acidity present in the stomach, the bacteria burrows into the mucus close to the epithelial layer. Due to the presence of a flagella the bacteria can move thro the stomach lumen and embed itself in the stomach's mucoid lining.
Treatment for a H.Pylori infection is generally a combined therapy of proton inhibitors such as omerprazole,pantoprazole and antibiotics clarithromycin and amoxicillin.

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Malaria : The parasites behind it.

Malaria is a mosquito borne infectious disease, which is generally caused by 4 distinct types of Plasmodium. All four of them are protozoan parasites. They are as follows

• Plasmodium Falciparum
• Plasmodium Vivax
• Plasmodioum Ovale
• Plasmodium Malariae

P.Falciparum is the most dangerous and fatal of these infections, they develop sticky knobs in red blood cells which stick along with endothelial cells of blood vessels , which in turn obstructs spleen clearance. The acquired adhesiveness of the RBCs may further negate oxygenation of the brain, resulting in cerebral malaria.
P.Vivax is the cause of recurring malaria, it is rather less virulent and is seldom fatal. P.Vivax enters the liver of the infected person and attacks the hepatic cells and reproduce asexually, P.Vivax prefer penetrating young RBCs( reticulocytes) the parasites RBC will be twice as larger than its normal size.
P.Ovale also is responsible for tertian Malaria, but is very rare compared to P.facliparum and P.Vivax.
P.Malariae is also known as the benign malaria and is rare compared to P,Falci and P.Vivax. But P.malariae can cause a chronic infection which can last a lifetime.It alone has very low morbidity but it can manifest in incidences of Anemia, low birth rates and reduced resistance to other infections.
Treatment is based on the type of infection and generally P.Vivax,Ovale and Malariae are treated on a OP basis.

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Human Rhinovirus - The one who causes the common cold

Rhinoviruses are the most common viral infection agents in the Human body. They are the most predominant cause for the condition called common cold. There are about 90 plus types of rhinoviruses which are different due to their surface proteins.
There are two modes of transmission: via aerosols of respiratory droplets and from contaminated surfaces, including direct person-to-person contact.
Human rhinoviruses occur worldwide and are the primary cause of common colds. Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and cough; sometimes accompanied by muscle aches, fatigue, malaise, headache, muscle weakness, or loss of appetite. Fever and extreme exhaustion are more usual in influenza.
Mostly rhinovirus infections are treated symptomatically, as they are quiet resistant to antiviral drugs such as Interferon, and there are no vaccines against the different serotypes of this virus.

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