Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Vaccination-Preventable Diseases
Number of Conditions: 4
Measles
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Infectious Diseases
Sub-category: Vaccination-Preventable Diseases
Symptoms:
high fever; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; white spots inside the mouth (koplik spots); red blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads downward
Root Cause:
Caused by the measles virus (a single-stranded RNA virus in the paramyxovirus family); spreads through respiratory droplets and is highly contagious.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation of symptoms (fever, rash, Koplik spots) and confirmed through laboratory tests like measles-specific IgM antibodies or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Treatment:
Supportive care to manage symptoms, including hydration, fever control, and vitamin A supplementation to reduce the severity of complications.
Medications:
No antiviral medications for measles. Supportive treatment includes antipyretics (e.g., acetaminophen or ibuprofen ) for fever, and vitamin A supplementation to prevent severe complications in children.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects millions globally, particularly in regions with low vaccination coverage. In 2022, over 9 million cases and 128,000 deaths were reported worldwide.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of vaccination, international travel to regions with outbreaks, immunosuppression, and malnutrition (especially vitamin A deficiency).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally excellent with proper supportive care, but complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, or death can occur, especially in children under 5 or individuals with weakened immunity.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
pneumonia; encephalitis; otitis media; diarrhea; subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
Rubella (German Measles)
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Infectious Diseases
Sub-category: Vaccination-Preventable Diseases
Symptoms:
low-grade fever; rash that starts on the face and spreads downward; swollen lymph nodes (especially behind the ears); joint pain; mild cold-like symptoms
Root Cause:
Caused by the rubella virus (a single-stranded RNA virus in the Togaviridae family); spreads via respiratory droplets and can lead to severe complications during pregnancy (congenital rubella syndrome).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation and confirmed through serology (rubella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies) or RT-PCR testing.
Treatment:
No specific antiviral treatment; care focuses on symptom management.
Medications:
Symptomatic treatment includes antipyretics (e.g., acetaminophen ) and analgesics for fever and joint pain.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare in countries with widespread vaccination but remains a concern in regions with low vaccination coverage.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of vaccination, pregnancy (risk to the fetus), and exposure to infected individuals.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent for most individuals, but congenital rubella syndrome can result in severe birth defects or fetal death if the mother is infected during pregnancy.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
congenital rubella syndrome (birth defects); arthritis; encephalitis; thrombocytopenia
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Infectious Diseases
Sub-category: Vaccination-Preventable Diseases
Symptoms:
severe coughing fits; whooping sound during inhalation; vomiting after coughing; exhaustion after coughing fits; runny nose; low-grade fever
Root Cause:
Caused by Bordetella pertussis (a gram-negative bacterium); highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Based on clinical symptoms and confirmed with nasopharyngeal swab (culture or PCR) or serology.
Treatment:
Early antibiotic treatment (macrolides) to reduce severity and prevent transmission; supportive care includes hydration and oxygen if needed.
Medications:
Macrolide antibiotics (e.g., azithromycin , clarithromycin , erythromycin ) are prescribed to treat the infection and limit spread.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Remains common worldwide, with periodic outbreaks even in vaccinated populations due to waning immunity.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of vaccination, waning immunity over time, close contact with infected individuals, and young age (infants are most at risk).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment, but severe complications can occur in infants.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
pneumonia; seizures; brain damage (encephalopathy); death in infants; rib fractures from severe coughing
Polio (Poliomyelitis)
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Infectious Diseases
Sub-category: Vaccination-Preventable Diseases
Symptoms:
fever; fatigue; headache; stiff neck; limb pain; paralysis in severe cases
Root Cause:
Caused by the poliovirus (a single-stranded RNA virus in the Picornaviridae family); spreads through fecal-oral transmission or respiratory droplets.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Confirmed by detecting the virus in stool or throat samples using PCR, or serology for poliovirus-specific antibodies.
Treatment:
No cure; treatment focuses on supportive care, including physical therapy and assistive devices for paralysis.
Medications:
No antiviral drugs for polio; pain relief can include analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen or ibuprofen ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Eradicated in many countries due to vaccination but still present in some regions (e.g., Afghanistan and Pakistan).
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Lack of vaccination, poor sanitation, and travel to areas with active transmission.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good for non-paralytic cases, but paralysis can result in lifelong disability or death if respiratory muscles are affected.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
paralysis; post-polio syndrome (late complications); respiratory failure; death