Chapter 2 : Outbreaks of Diseases of the Respiratory Tract

Abstract:

The primary method of spread for respiratory tract pathogens is via airborne particles and mucus droplets. The containment of a respiratory outbreak can be complicated by a pathogen’s ability to survive outside the body. Respiratory pathogens are highly contagious and spread rapidly through a community. Outbreaks of respiratory pathogens are common in colleges. Microbes that can survive in the alveoli of the lungs are the most dangerous, causing a life-threatening infection that blocks gas exchange. Microbial pathogens have evolved strategies to bypass the upper respiratory system. The outbreaks presented in this section emphasize the serious nature of respiratory tract infections, the difficulty of consistently and effectively implementing basic disease control measures, and the rapid spread of microbes that travel through the air. This section presents a detailed account of the various types of respiratory outbreaks, including Legionellosis, syncytial virus, tuberculosis, otitis media and diphtheria. The cause of the disease, transmission, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of each disease in explained in detail.