Small Pox Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Small Pox - Research Paper Example Smallpox can readily spread from one individual to other through saliva droplets (Tucker, 2001). Smallpox could also spread from the clothes and bedding of the infected person (Tucker, 2001). It is during the first week of the infection that smallpox happens to be most contagious. Until the rash scabs of an infected patient fall off, the virus continuous to be contagious. The smallpox virus infiltrates the human body through respiratory tract (Todar, 2009). It permeates the human mucous membrane and spread and multiplies in the associated lymph nodes, before making its way to the rest of the human organ systems (Todar, 2009). The incubation time of smallpox varies from 1 to 12 days (Tucker, 2001). The symptoms of smallpox emerge within 12 to 14 days after a patient catches the smallpox virus (Tucker, 2001). The varied symptoms of smallpox include prominent pink rashes that turn into crusty sores by the 8th or 9th day of getting infected, vomiting, backache, delirium, severe headache, malaise, diarrhea, high fever, fatigue and excessive bleeding (PubMed Health, 2012) . These symptoms may be accompanied by additional complications like bone infections, skin infections, severe bleeding, pneumonia, and eye infections (PubMed Health, 2012). The salient laboratory tests that are used to diagnose smallpox include white blood cell count, DIC panel and platelet count (PubMed Health, 2012). In the context of the treatment, if the person contacting smallpox is vaccinated within 1 to 4 days, this may prevent illness or may perhaps make the intensity of illness less severe (PubMed Health, 2012). However, once a patient develops full blown symptoms of smallpox, there is no treatment for smallpox. There is no salt or drug that can be used to treat smallpox. However, many a times the smallpox patients are administered antibiotics to treat associated infections that may develop along with smallpox (Todar, 2009). Individuals who are positively diagnosed of smallpox