Disease and Resistance - Assignment Example

List two reasons why postmenopausal women are at higher risks for UTIs and briefly describe the diagnostic process for UTIs. The risk of UTIs arehigh for post-menopausal women and one of the major reasons for its occurrence is the loss of estrogen which causes the thinning of the uterine wall thereby reducing its resistance against infections. In addition, another factor related to such women is the occurrence of urinary incontinence which with increasing age. The diagnosis of UTIs involves a physical and chemical analysis of the urine sample along with culture analysis of the sample collected under aseptic conditions.

Other tests which can be used to determine the underlying condition include ultrasound, x-rays and blood culture. 2. Outline the path of infection that begins as urtheritis and eventually becomes pyelonephritis. Provide a possible cause. One of the major causative factors for the occurrence of pyelonephritis is Escherichia coli, which is the most common bacteria present in the small intestine. The infection usually begins from the genital tract and then moves through the urethra to the bladder and finally reaches the kidney via the ureters.

In the case of a normal urinary tract the spread of the infection is prevented by the flow of the urine and closing of the ureters at the entrance of the bladder. 3. List some of the members of the normal microflora and discuss factors that may contribute to an abnormal increase in the normal microflora in female organs that could lead to vaginitis. The normal microflora present in a healthy vagina includes Lactobacillus sp, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Candida albicans. Certain external factors such as puberty, wearing synthetic panties, unsafe sex and used of birth control pills, douching and use of other feminine- birth control pills can cause a rise in the number of these normal microflora which in turn could lead to urinary tract infections. 4. Discuss and differentiate between the prevalence and incidence of STIs in the United States.

Sexually transmitted infections, which are common among teenagers and young adults, affects nearly 200 to 400 people worldwide. The prevalence of STD is more among people with multiple sex partners and certain specific populations such as homosexuals within the country. The US department of health services and the center for disease prevention has reported that nearly 65 million people have incurable STD and a recent survey revealed an increased occurrence of Chlamydia and syphilis among men and women.

The occurrence of gonorrhea infection has, however, remained stable over the past years. The increased reporting of STDs in recent years is owing to improvements in screening methods. 5. Describe and explain the different stages of syphilis, HIV infections, and AIDS. The development of the syphilis infection can be divided into three stages. The primary stage is usually characterized by the appearance of a single, painless sore which heals without treatment. The secondary stage is mainly marked by skin rashes and lesions and the individual also suffers from fever, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, hair loss and headaches.

The latent stage of the disease which begins when the symptoms of the primary and secondary stages disappear usually includes damage to the internal organs including the brain and the nervous system followed by paralysis and eventually death. The HIV infection which finally results in AIDS, affects the cells of the immune and central nervous system. The first stage of the infection is characterized by flu like symptoms while the next clinically asymptomatic stage lasts for a period of about ten years during which the major symptoms could be swollen glands and despite the lack of any other severe symptoms, the HIV is active in the lymph nodes in this stage.

As the HIV proliferates and mutates, thus weakening the immune system of the host, the next stage is characterized by opportunistic infections and cancers which lead to multi-system failure. In the final stage the disease is characterized by the progression to AIDS during which the illnesses become more pronounced.