Read more about the article Chagas Disease
Trypanosoma cruzi crithidia

Chagas Disease

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Organism One of two diseases cause by Trypanosome parasites Transmission Via the triotimine bugs (bite at night) – blood sucking reduvids –transmit when faeces come into contact with blood/mucosal surfaces. Epidemiology…

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Read more about the article Chickenpox (varicella zoster)
An example of widespread chickenpox lesions on the back on an adult patient. This is da 5 and the lesions are beginning to crust over. This file is taken from wikimedia commons and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Chickenpox (varicella zoster)

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Introduction Chickenpox is a common, highly infectious, usually self-limiting viral illness caused by the varicella zoster virus. Varicella is a type of herpes virus - and like other herpes viruses…

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Read more about the article Chlamydia
Chlamydae Life Cycle

Chlamydia

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Introduction Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) is the most common bacterial STI. It is most common in those <30, and is often asymptomatic. It is simple to test for and to treat. Previous infection…

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Read more about the article Cholera
Cholera bacterium. Model of cholera bacteria - Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - 2012 - by Tim Evanson. Licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0.

Cholera

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Organism vibrio cholerae (gram negative) incubation- avg 3 days Transmission Faecal - oral Small infecting dose may lead to carrier state Large infecting dose will lead to overt disease Epidemiology…

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Read more about the article Clostridium Difficile Infection
Clostridium Difficile. Image by fjbengoat is licensed with CC BY-NC 2.0.

Clostridium Difficile Infection

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Introduction Clostridium Difficile (aka c. diff, c. difficile) is a Gram positive anaerobic spore forming bacteria that is carried in the normal gut fauna of the large intestine in about 5% of the…

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Read more about the article Diphtheria
Diphtheria

Diphtheria

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Organism Cornynebacterium diptheriae Incubation; 2-5 days   Transmission Droplet spread – from nasopharynx of case or carrier.   Epidemiology Death rate is 10%(higher in children under 5 and adults over…

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Read more about the article EBV – Epstein Barr Virus
Epsteine Barr Virus. This electron microscopic image of two Epstein Barr Virus virions (viral particles) shows round capsids—protein-encased genetic material—loosely surrounded by the membrane envelope. This file is taken from wikimedia commons and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

EBV – Epstein Barr Virus

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Introduction Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a type of human herpes virus. It is extremely widespread, and is contracted by close person to person contact. It can cause a wide range…

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Read more about the article Febrile Neutropenia
Haematology

Febrile Neutropenia

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Introduction Definition: Febrile neutropenia is the presence of a fever > 38oC and with an absolute neutrophil count of <1.0x109/L [1] Note that in many hospital policies, patients may be considered to…

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Read more about the article Giardiasis
Giardia Lamblia

Giardiasis

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Introduction Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine (duodenum and jejunum) caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia. It can affect humans and animals. It can cause chronic diarrhoea and malabsorption. Giardia exists…

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