Get to know Melioidosis, a common infectious disease in the rainy season
Melioidosis is an infection caused by a gram-negative bacterium called Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is often found in contaminated soil and water in tropical countries such as Thailand. It is considered an area with a relatively high number of infected people, especially in the Northeast. However, it is found more in every region and this disease has been reported almost all over the world. This bacterium can spread to both humans and animals. In animals, it is often found in cows, buffalo, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, and cats.
Contact
Contact with contaminated water and soil is the most common.
Inhaling dust or water droplets contaminated with germs, as well as drinking contaminated water, can cause infection.
Person-to-person transmission is rare.
Incubation period
The incubation period of the disease ranges from a few days to decades, but symptoms usually appear within 2-4 weeks after infection.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms vary, and in some cases, there are no clear symptoms. Many symptoms can be distinguished from tuberculosis or other pneumonia infections.
Symptoms of infection are mainly divided as follows:
- Localized infection will cause pain or swelling at the entrance of the infection. A wound or abscess may develop. Some people may also have a fever.
- Lung infections cause coughing, chest pain, headache, and poor appetite. Fever is usually high.
- Bloodstream infection often presents with fever, headache, difficulty breathing, abdominal distension, joint pain, and confusion in some cases.
- Disseminated infection often presents with fever, weight loss, abdominal or chest pain, headache, central nervous system infection, or even seizures.
Who is at risk for melioidosis?
Many research sources have found that people with these diseases are at higher risk than the general population, including diabetes, chronic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, thalassemia, and various types of cancer.
Diagnosis of melioidosis
Since the symptoms are non-specific, diagnosis based on the symptoms is not easy.
Diagnosis can be done in several ways, such as blood culture, immunological testing, genetic analysis, etc.
Treatment of melioidosis
There are antibiotics that can be treated by https://ufabet999.app injection, such as saftasidim, meropenem, which should be given in the early stages of the disease. Oral medications include trimethoprime, sulfamethasone, or amoxicillin. Those with severe symptoms should receive injections.
Prevention is as follows:
1. Be careful when wading through standing water or swimming in natural water sources such as canals and ponds, especially areas that may be contaminated with germs.
2. Be careful of touching soil and water in areas with high germs. It is recommended to wear boots.
3. Beware of contaminated food, such as street food or some food stalls that have improper hygiene, animals in the area where food is prepared or where dishes are washed.
If you suspect that you may have melioidosis, you should consult a doctor or public health personnel for immediate diagnosis and treatment.