Bacterial Diseases
Bacteria are single-celled microscopic organisms. While many are beneficial, some cause serious infections in the human body. Below is a detailed study of the major bacterial diseases, their pathogens, and related government health initiatives.
Pathogen | Disease | Transmission |
Salmonella typhi | Typhoid Fever | Contaminated food and water |
Streptococcus pneumoniae | Pneumonia | Inhalation of respiratory droplets |
Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Gastroenteritis | Contaminated food and water |
Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Tuberculosis | Inhalation of respiratory droplets |
Vibrio cholerae | Cholera | Contaminated food and water |
1. Typhoid (Enteric Fever)
- Pathogen: Salmonella typhi bacteria.
- Mode of Transmission: Spreads primarily through contaminated food and water (fecal-oral route).
- Affected Organs: Enters the small intestine through food and migrates to other organs through the bloodstream.
- Symptoms: Sustained high fever (39°C to 40°C), weakness, stomach pain, constipation, headache, and loss of appetite. In severe cases, it can cause intestinal perforation and death.
- Important Fact for Prelims: The medical test used to confirm Typhoid is the Widal Test.
- Classic Case: Mary Mallon, nicknamed “Typhoid Mary,” was a famous historical carrier who spread the disease through the food she prepared while showing no symptoms herself.
2. Pneumonia
- Pathogen: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.
- Mode of Transmission: Inhaling droplets or aerosols released by an infected person, or by sharing glasses and utensils.
- Affected Organs: Infects the alveoli (air-filled sacs) of the lungs. The alveoli get filled with fluid, causing severe problems in breathing.
- Symptoms: Fever, chills, cough, and headache. In severe cases, the lips and fingernails may turn gray to bluish.
Government Initiatives:
- SAANS (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully): A campaign launched by the Ministry of Health to reduce child mortality due to pneumonia.
- PCV Vaccine: The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) is provided free of cost under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) to protect children.
3. Tuberculosis (TB)
- Pathogen: Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Mode of Transmission: Spreads through the air via droplet infection when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- Affected Organs: Primarily affects the lungs (Pulmonary TB), but can also attack the brain, spine, and kidneys.
- Symptoms: Persistent cough (often releasing blood-stained sputum), chest pain, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.
- Treatment Fact: The primary vaccine for TB is the BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine. The standard medical treatment is DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course).
- Government Initiatives:
- National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP): India has set an ambitious target to eliminate TB by the year 2025, which is five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 2030.
- Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana(2018): A scheme providing direct cash transfers (financial support) to TB patients to ensure proper nutritional intake during their treatment.
4. Dysentery (Bacterial/Shigellosis)
- Pathogen: Shigella species.
- Mode of Transmission: Consuming contaminated food and drinking water.
- Affected Organs: The large intestine.
- Symptoms: Frequent passage of stool containing blood and mucus, severe abdominal cramps, and fever.
- Government Initiatives: Addressed largely under the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF), which heavily promotes the use of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and Zinc tablets to prevent dehydration in children.
5. Plague
- Pathogen: Yersinia pestis.
- Mode of Transmission: It is a vector-borne bacterial disease. It spreads through the bite of infected rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis).
- Affected Organs: Lymph nodes, blood, and lungs.
- Symptoms: Swollen, painful lymph nodes (called Buboes), high fever, chills, and extreme weakness.
- Historical Fact: Often referred to in history as the “Black Death.” India faced a notable outbreak in Surat in 1994. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) actively monitors such epidemic-prone diseases today.
6. Diphtheria
- Pathogen: Shigella species.
- Mode of Transmission: Consuming contaminated food and drinking water.
- Affected Organs: The large intestine.
- Symptoms: Frequent passage of stool containing blood and mucus, severe abdominal cramps, and fever.
- Government Initiatives: Addressed largely under the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF), which heavily promotes the use of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) and Zinc tablets to prevent dehydration in children.
7. Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease)
- Pathogen: Mycobacterium leprae.
- Mode of Transmission: Prolonged, close contact with an untreated infected person (through respiratory droplets). It is not highly contagious.
- Affected Organs: Primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes.
- Symptoms: Light-coloured or reddish skin patches with a definite loss of sensation (inability to feel pain or temperature), numbness in hands and feet, and muscle weakness.
- Treatment Fact: It is completely curable using Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT).
- Government Initiatives:
- National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP): Aimed at early detection and providing free MDT.
- SPARSH Leprosy Awareness Campaign: An initiative launched to reduce the social stigma and discrimination against individuals affected by the disease.
