infectiology | MY SPECIAL DOCTOR

Rubella

2 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Rubella is an acute exanthematous infectious disease caused by a RNA virus of the genus Rubivirus of the family Togaviridae. It manifests as a rash similar to those of measles or scarlet fever, diseases from which it may be clinically indistinguishable. It is generally a mild disease but becomes dangerous if contracted during pregnancy because it can lead to miscarriage, intrauterine fetal death, or severe congenital abnormalities.

In Italy, rubella is a compulsorily notifiable disease. A physician who suspects a case of rubella must notify the referring health authority by phone, fax, or email within 12 hours of suspicion.

Infectious diseases: tetanus

2 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Tetanus is an acute noncontagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani.

It is a Gram-positive bacillus that grows only in the absence of oxygen (i.e., it is anaerobic), and it occurs naturally in both vegetative and spore form. The germ in vegetative form produces a toxin, called tetanospasmin, which is neurotoxic and causes the clinical symptoms of the disease. It is one of an extremely potent toxin, so much so that the lethal amount for a human is about 7 millionths of a milligram.

What is measles?

4 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus of the genus morbillivirus (family Paramyxovidae). Highly contagious, it is a disease that is called “childhood” since-along with chickenpox, whooping cough, rubella, and mumps-it mainly affects infancy.

This infectious disease, which lasts between 10 and 20 days, does not give particularly serious symptoms. Contagiousness lasts up to five days after the disappearance of the typical rashes of the disease and is highest three days earlier, when the body reacts to the presence of the virus with fever. Once contracted, measles provides an immunization that, theoretically, will last a lifetime.

The 5 things to know about mumps

4 February 20246 January 2024 by Redazione My Special Doctor

Mumps is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by a virus belonging to the Paramyxovirus family, which localizes to the salivary glands and the first airways (pharynx, larynx, and trachea).

How does it manifest itself?

The enlargement of the parotid glands, located under the ear pinnae, behind the angle of the jaw, gives the face the characteristic appearance from which the popular name of “mumps“.
The incubation period is highly variable between 12 and 25 days and is generally free of symptoms except sometimes accompanied by malaise, loss of appetite, chilliness, fever, headache, muscle pain. Symptoms begin with fever, often high that persists for 4-5 days, auricular region pain, muscle aches, headache, and swelling of one or both parotids, resulting in pain during chewing and swallowing.
The involvement is initially of only one gland but in most cases (75%), in about 2 days, the parotid gland on the opposite side is also involved. Approximately one-third of parotitic virus infections do not manifest in a clinically overt form, but only with nonspecific respiratory tract symptomatology. Swelling of the parotid glands lasts approximately one week, and healing occurs in 10-12 days. Swelling and redness of the orifice of Stenone’s duct is often present.