Tropical Diseases

Case definition: an acute bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis (Gram-positive). It is manifested at first by itching of an exposed skin surface, followed by a painful lesion which becomes papular, then vesiculated and eventually develops into a depressed black eschar in 2-6 days.

Case definition: a rickettsial disease (spread usually by tick bites) that has a variable onset but most often marked by sudden headache, chills, prostration, fever and general pains. A maculopapular eruption appears on the 5" — 7th day, initially on the upper trunk followed by a spread to the entire body but usually not to the face, palms or soles. Chancre, local erythema develops on bite site with local lymphadenopathy.

Zimbabwe is annually instituting Mass Drug (Medicine) Administration (MDA) for bilharzia, intestinal worms, lymphatic filariasis and blinding trachoma to Pre and School Aged Children (Pre-SAC and SAC) as well as adults in endemic districts using WHO guidelines for preventive chemotherapy.

Proper diagnosis can only be made by microscopy of urine and stools. Antibody tests alone are insufficient basis for treatment.

This is a severe immunological reaction to recent heavy infection with Schistosoma mansoni or haematobium causing fever and acute serum sickness. Treat with:

Case Definition: Hydrocoele, lymphoedema, elephantiasis or chyluria in a resident of an endemic area for which other causes of these findings have been excluded. Causative organisms: Lymphatic filariasis is caused by the following nematodes

« Case definition: Any person with rapid onset of fever, chills, headache, severe malaise, prostration with extremely painful swelling of lymph nodes, or cough with blood-stained sputum, chest pain and difficulty in breathing in an area known to have plague.

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by the protozoa of the genus trypanosoma that is transmitted by the bite of tsetse fly in sub- Saharan Africa. The disease is also known as sleeping sickness and has been reported from remote areas, mainly from the game parks in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Matebeleland North.

Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi, a Gram-negative bacterium. A very similar but often less severe disease is caused by the Salmonella serotype paratyphi A.

ii)Susceptibility: Multidrug Resistant TB

i) Susceptibility: Fully Sensitive Medicine Codes Adult dose Frequency Duration ciprofloxacin po BV 500mg twice daily 10-14days or ofloxacin po B oN 400mg once daily 10-14days ii) Susceptibility: Multidrug Resistant Medicine Codes Adult dose Frequency Duration azithromycin po C V 250-500mg_ once daily 10-14days

According to the Public Health Act (PHA) Chapter 15:09, there are infectious diseases that have to be immediately notified to health authority in an area by either District Medical Officer, or Provincial Medical Director, or City Health Director. These diseases can spread rapidly and cause outbreaks. They need closer monitoring if they are to be controlled. It is important that the health authority knows what action has been taken to control the spreading of the diseases. It is also a requiremen