Nipah Virus: A Global Health Threat and Its Health Impacts - Essay Sample

Introduction

Concerning the class of disease that possesses the current largest health threat, the Nipah virus is an ongoing health threat in the world. The Nipah virus (NiV) refers to a zoonotic which is transmitted from animals to the human being (Chatterjee, 2018). The virus can also be transmitted contaminated food, as well as direct transmission between individuals. The virus can cause a variety of diseases such as acute respiratory disease and asymptomatic infections. Famers may also face economic losses because the virus may cause disease on animals like pigs. More importantly, the first outbreak of the virus was in Malaysia, and it affected Singapore. The virus affected people due to direct contact with animals such as pigs. The virus is thought to have transmitted through exposure to some tissues of the sick pigs (Chatterjee, 2018). In another instance, the virus affected people in India and Bangladesh from human-to-human via contact to excretions and secretions of the affected people.

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Regarding the impact of the Nipah virus in the last fifty years, infection of the virus was first experienced in Malaysia and Singapore, where 276 cases were reported between 1998 and 1999 (Chatterjee, 2018). Most of the people who were infected with the virus were in contact with the sick pigs. Most of the patients with encephalitis died. The natural reservoir for the Nipah virus is the large fruit bats. After ten years, there were no cases of the infection in Malaysia, but annual cases are often experienced in Bangladesh. More significantly, the clinical demonstration has been controlled by the respiratory signs, and the casualty cases are more than 70 percent (Chatterjee, 2018). The virus also caused a lot of death in India in 2001, and the virus has been affecting a few people every year. The spread of the Nipah virus has also been experienced in China, Thailand, Madagascar, Cambodia, and most of the West African countries.

Viral Pneumonia

Causes of Pneumonia

Nipah virus causes acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia, the infection inflames the air sacs in the lung, and the air sacs can be filled with fluids causing cough with chills, fever, and problems of breathing (Cunha, & Opal, 2014). Both bacteria and viruses are the major causes of pneumonia. The viruses responsible for pneumonia may settle in the alveoli and multiply when the infected person breathes in. More imperatively, the viruses which cause pneumonia are usually inhaled. Again coming in contact with the Nipah virus, infected pigs can cause pneumonia.

Signs

The signs of viral pneumonia may include; coughs that may produce greenish or yellow mucus. The infection may show difficulty in breath, fever, sweating, and shaking chills (Cunha, & Opal, 2014). The disease can as well show signs of confusion, especially for old individuals. Other signs can be loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting for children.

Symptoms

Concerning viral pneumonia, the symptoms often develop after a few days, and the early symptoms are the same as the influenza symptoms, including dry cough, headache, weakness, and muscle pain (Bello et al., 2014). After a few days, the symptoms increases, and the patient experience shorter breathe and higher fever. Viral pneumonia may vary in different populations. For instance, infants and newborns may have no symptoms of the infection. The old people who are suffering from severe illness and the weak immune system may experience fewer symptoms. Such patients may also experience lower body temperature than the average temperature.

Diagnosis

Viral pneumonia may be very difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are the same as those of cold or influenza. For diagnosis, the doctor has to ask some questions relating to the medical history of the patient and carry out a physical examination, as well as some tests to identify the germ that is causing the disease (Bello et al., 2014). The diagnostic tests can include; blood tests, the test aim at confirming the infection, and identifying the causing germ. A chest X-ray test can determine the location and the extent to which the inflammation has occurred in the lung. Pulse oximetry can also be utilized in measuring the level of oxygen in the bloodstream (Cunha, & Opal, 2014). Finally, the tests can include a sputum test on the mucus that is seized from a deep cough for revealing the sources of the infection.

Prevention

Regarding the prevention of the disease, viral pneumonia is preventable in many ways, such as; vaccination and vaccines can be used to prevent pneumonia, even though the vaccines have changed over time (Cunha, & Opal, 2014). Another method of preventing pneumonia is through practicing good hygiene, which can protect people from respiratory infections that may cause pneumonia; for example, frequent hand washing may help prevent the disease. Smoking is another dangerous practice for pneumonia patients; therefore, abstaining from smoke may help prevent the infection (Bello et al., 2014). Finally, keeping a stronger immune system through having an adequate sleep, a healthy diet, and regular exercise also help prevent the infection.

Treatment

The first treatment option for pneumonia is by the use of antibiotics. Health providers usually prescribe over-the-counter medications to assist in managing the signs and symptoms of pneumonia. The antibiotics will reduce fever, aches, muscle pains, as well as suppressing coughs (Cunha & Opal, 2014). Another optional treatment, especially for viral pneumonia, is through rest and plenty of fluids. The doctor may also recommend antiviral medications.

Concerning prognosis for a patient with pneumonia, healthy people often recover faster when they receive prompt and appropriate care (Bello et al., 2014). The infection is serious and may threaten people's life if not given prompt treatment, especially for those with increased risks of the infection. Unfortunately, the patients who have undergone treatment can also develop long-term health issues such as mental decline and cardiovascular diseases, among other health problems.

Epidemiology Study for Pneumonia

One of the studies has shown that the management of pneumonia among older people needs an appreciation of numerous aspects of geriatric medicine, which comprises demographics of the aging population (Cunha & Opal, 2014). The result has shown that there is a variation in the effect of pneumonia on the aging population and the younger population. For the old age, the infection can be latent, without chill, and little or no coughs.

Effect on Body's Homeostasis

The infection affects the lung, and some complications may lead to problems in other parts of the body. The pneumonia infection may spread from the lung into the bloodstream, which causes serious complications. When it reaches other major organs, it can cause damage and may also lead to death (Cunha & Opal, 2014). The spread of the infection into the bloodstream may cause septic shock, which leads to low blood pressure and reduces the flow of blood in the body (Bello et al., 2014). Patients of weak immune systems may develop more complications when infected by pneumonia.

References

Bello, S., Minchole, E., Fandos, S., Lasierra, A. B., Ruiz, M. A., Simon, A. L., ... & Torres, A. (2014). Inflammatory response in mixed viral-bacterial community-acquired pneumonia. BMC pulmonary medicine, 14(1), 123.

Chatterjee, P. (2018). Nipah virus outbreak in India. The Lancet, 391(10136), 2200.

Cunha, C. B., & Opal, S. M. (2014). Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) A new zoonotic viral pneumonia. Virulence, 5(6), 650-654.