Question 1

INFLUENZA

Accepted Answer

Influenza is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus, usually occurring in late fall, winter and early spring. It occurs within 1-3 days after the virus enters the body.

Symptoms:

Chills, fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny and stuffy nose, muscle and joint pain, headache, weakness, diarrhea.

People at Risk:
People over 65 and under 2 years of age
People with diabetes and similar metabolic diseases
Chronic kidney disease patients
Those with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma
People with suppressed immune systems
Those who are overweight
Pregnant women

Influenza can be associated with complications. The most important complications are pneumonia and central nervous system involvement.
There are drugs forthe virusin the treatment. These medicines are beneficial if started within the first two days. They should be used at the dose and time prescribed by the physician.

How Can We Prevent Influenza?

The most effective method of protection against influenza is vaccination. The vaccine is prepared every year taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). The best time for vaccination is October. Vaccination is recommended for all individuals over 6 months, especially those at risk.

Other Prevention Methods;

Since the flu is transmitted by droplet and contact; personal hygiene rules should be followed. Do not stay in crowded environments for a long time, avoid close contact with sick people and wash hands frequently.
COLD COLD; It is often confused with influenza. It is caused by viral agents. Adults can catch cold 2-3 times a year, children 5-7 times a year.

Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion and mild weakness. Fever is often absent. The disease is mild. There is no medication or vaccine for the causative agent.

Question 2

PNEUMONIA

Accepted Answer

Inflammation of the lung tissue.
The most common causes of pneumonia are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Pneumonia ranks first among infection-related causes of death.
Symptoms; Fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, headache, fatigue, sometimes abdominal pain, diarrhea can be seen.
Pneumonia is more common in cases such as heart failure, diabetes, alcoholism and HIV infection. Viral upper respiratory tract infections such as influenza are also predisposing factors for pneumonia.
Diagnosis; in addition to the clinical symptoms mentioned above;

Chest radiography,
Sputum culture and other sputum tests,
It is possible to determine the causative agent by blood culture.

Treatment; It is treated with antibiotics for the causative agent.
Antibiotic treatment should be done in the appropriate dose and duration without delay. Quitting smoking, especially in men, reduces the risk of pneumonia.
*Influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine is one of the effective protocols for the prevention of pneumonia, especially in the elderly.

Who Should Get Pneumococcal Vaccine:
- For Children
  - Under 2 years old
  - Immunocompromised patients (such as HIV infection)
  - Those with kidney failure
  - Functional disorders of the spleen or those whose spleen has been removed for any reason
  - Those with cerebrospinal fluid leakage
  - People with diabetes
  - Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for children with chronic liver disease.
- For Adults
  - Over 50 years old
  - Immunocompromised patients (such as HIV infection)
  - Those with kidney failure
  - Functional disorders of the spleen or those whose spleen has been removed for any reason
  - Those with cerebrospinal fluid leakage

Adults are first vaccinated with a conjugated vaccine containing 13 pneumococcal types. After 8 weeks, a vaccine containing 23 pneumococcal types is given.

Question 3

VIRAL HEPATITIS

Accepted Answer

Inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis viruses.

HEPATITIS -A VIRUS:

After a certain incubation period, the virus taken orally manifests itself with weakness, nausea, vomiting, darkening of the urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin. After a certain period of time, these symptoms ease and recovery begins. The disease does not become chronic, but it can lead to liver coma and death in as low as 1% of cases. Supportive treatment is applied.
*It is a vaccine-preventable disease.

HEPATITIS -B VIRUS:

It is transmitted through blood, blood products, sexual contact and from mother to baby close to birth. Intravenous drug users who use a common syringe are also at risk. It becomes chronic in approximately 1-2% of cases. 1-2% of cases may lead to death by liver coma.
Clinical symptoms are similar to Hepatitis-A. For patients who become chronic, the progression of the disease can be stopped by using drugs effective against the virus. If left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. With treatment, the virus cannot be eliminated from the body, but it can be suppressed.
*For prevention; Hepatitis-B serum and vaccine are available. If pregnant women are carriers of Hepatitis-B; serum and vaccine are given to the baby after birth. In our country, newborns are routinely vaccinated.

HEPATITIS -C VIRUS:

Clinical symptoms are similar to other viruses. It usually proceeds without jaundice. It is mostly transmitted through blood and blood products. Intravenous drug users due to shared syringe use are also at risk. Transmission by sexual contact is rare. 85% of cases become chronic. It can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
It can be treated 80-90% with recently available antiviral drugs.
*There is no vaccine.

HEPATITIS -D VIRUS:

It is an incomplete virus. It cannot cause disease on its own. It needs the hepatitis-B virus to cause hepatitis. It becomes chronic and leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Treatment is difficult.
*It is possible to be protected from Hepatitis-D virus with Hepatitis-B vaccine.

HEPATITIS -E VIRUS:

Transmitted by mouth. Symptoms are similar to Hepatitis-A. It does not become chronic. If hepatitis-E infection occurs in the mother in the last trimester of pregnancy; 25% of cases lead to death as a result of hepatic coma.
*Effective vaccine production has started in recent years.

Question 4

HIV-AIDS

Accepted Answer

HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus.
AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
HIV infection is one of the most important health problems in developing countries. It is thought that more than 6 million people have been infected with HIV so far.
The virus mainly infects and destroys white blood cells called T-helper and monocytes. Once the virus enters the body, the first symptoms of the disease are fever, sore throat, rash, low white blood cells, diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting. Later, lymph node swelling and low platelets occur. Weight loss is frequently observed.
Undiagnosed and untreated patients develop AIDS within 10 years.
In some rare cases, even if a person gets the virus, it is excreted from the body without causing any harm.
When AIDS develops, the immune system of the person has completely collapsed. Various bacteria, viruses and parasites that do not cause disease in normal individuals cause infections in these patients.
Bacterial pneumonia is 10 times more common in HIV positive patients than in negative patients. Tuberculosis is significantly increased in HIV positive patients.
Malignancies that are rare in normal individuals may occur frequently in HIV positive patients.

Who is at Risk?

The main modes of transmission are blood and blood products, sexual contact and transmission from HIV-positive mother to her baby. Since blood and blood products have been tested for HIV for a long time, transmission through this route has decreased. Prostitutes, intravenous drug users (through shared injectors), homosexuals are at risk.
The rate of transmission from pregnant mother to baby is between -60%. If the diagnosis is made during pregnancy and treatment is started, this rate can be as low as 2%. HIV can be transmitted through breast milk.
Diagnosis; ELISA test is done in the blood first. If this test is positive, confirmation is done with Western Blot test. Since the ELISA test has false positivity, Western Blot confirmation test must be performed.
Treatment; Various antiviral agents effective against HIV virus have been used until today. At least 3 types of drugs are used in treatment to prevent the virus from developing resistance.
A multidisciplinary approach is required during follow-up and treatment.
If HIV patients are followed and treated appropriately, they can continue their lives as in other chronic patients.
*There is no protective vaccine against the disease today.

Question 5

MENINGITIS

Accepted Answer

It is an inflammation of the meninges. Headache is the earliest symptom. Then consciousness gradually fades. The patient falls into a coma. There is often fever. Severe vomiting may occur.
The causative agents include various bacteria, viruses and parasites. The most important agents among bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae.
Over the age of 50, meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes is more common.

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis is rarely seen in recent years due to vaccination.
Neisseria meningitidis meningitis is contagious. People who go to places where this is common (Hajj, Umrah, etc.) are vaccinated.
People with sudden onset of severe headache and fever should apply to health institutions as soon as possible.

Especially bacterial meningitis can result in death if not diagnosed and treated early.
The diagnosis is made by taking a sample of cerebrospinal fluid and analyzing it. Early and effective antibiotic treatment is life-saving.
Viral meningitis has a milder course. There is no specific treatment except for a few.
Tuberculosis bacilli are among the agents of meningitis. It is mostly the causative agent of chronic meningitis. If not diagnosed and treated early, neurological sequelae remain and death results.

Question 6

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Accepted Answer

Urinary tract infections are divided into upper and lower urinary tract infections: Pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidney) is called upper urinary tract infection and cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) is called lower urinary tract infection;

Symptoms of pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation); fever, side pain, difficult and frequent urination,
Symptoms of cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) ; there is no fever, there are symptoms of difficult and frequent urination.

Escherichia coli bacteria is the most common urinary tract infection agent.
Urinary tract infections occur in 1-2% of newborns, 5% of girls and 0.5% of boys. It is more common in women than in men. At least one urinary tract infection occurs in at least one woman each year.
The diagnosis is made with the clinical symptoms listed above, the presence of leukocytes in the urine (pyuria) and the presence of growth in the urine culture.
Effective antibiotics are given as a result of antibiogram and treatment is performed.
Patients are advised to drink plenty of water and take painkillers.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria; Bacteria in the urine without any symptoms. Antibiotic treatment is not required except in the following cases;
- Pregnancy
- Kidney transplant patients
- Patients scheduled for genitourinary system operation

Prevention; Recent studies have shown that blueberry products are effective in preventing urinary tract infections. However, some studies have been controversial.
Vaginal administration of Lactobacillus crispatus bacteria significantly prevented urinary tract infections in pre-menopausal women.

Question 7

BRUCELLOSIS (CHEESE DISEASE)

Accepted Answer

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the brucella bacteria. In fact, this bacterium causes disease in animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. The disease is transmitted to humans by contact with sick animals and their tissues, and by eating unpasteurized milk and dairy products. Veterinarians, laboratory workers and people engaged in animal husbandry are at risk.
Fever, sweating, muscle pain, joint pain, weight loss, ligament pain and fatigue are the most common symptoms.

Liver and spleen enlargement, enlarged lymph nodes may be observed. It may cause complications such as bone inflammation, testicular inflammation, heart valve inflammation and meningitis.
Diagnosis; in addition to the above symptoms; blood culture and some serologic tests are performed.
Treatment is with at least two antibiotics active against this bacterium for at least two weeks.
Control of the disease in humans is only possible by preventing the disease in animals. Animals are vaccinated.

Question 8

FEVER OF UNKNOWN CAUSE

Accepted Answer

Classical fever of unknown cause can be defined as fever that exceeds 38.3 degrees Celsius in various measurements, lasts longer than 3 weeks and whose cause cannot be found with a one-week examination. Infections, malignancies, connective tissue diseases are the most common causes of fever of unknown origin.
Infections are responsible for -58% of the causes of fever of unknown origin.

In patients over 65 years of age, the probability of infection decreases and decreases to the 2nd or 3rd place among the causes of fever of unknown origin. In patients over 65 years of age, connective tissue diseases account for 30% of fever of unknown cause and tumors account for 30%. Especially in 30% of young people, the cause of fever cannot be found despite all kinds of investigations.
Abscesses, heart valve inflammation, tuberculosis, complicated urinary tract infections are the most common infectious conditions.
The most common malignancies causing fever of unknown cause are hematologic cancers, colon cancers and central nervous system cancers. After various examinations, a diagnosis can be made in approximately 70% of patients. In the rest; no diagnosis can be reached.

Infection

Infectious Diseases

About the Department

Types of Infectious Diseases;

When to see an Infectious Diseases Specialist?

Uzm. Dr. Dilek Leyla MAMÇU