Signs - characteristics detectible by another person - such as a doctor. They include such things as the presence of a micro - organisms in the blood, a high temperature, swollen glands, or high blood pressure.
Symptoms - things which are felt by the patient which have no visible physical maifesration. They include headaches, pail, feeling tired or depressed. Signs and sympptoms together known as the Clinical Features of a disease. Note that the term 'symptoms' is often used much more loosely, to include the signs as well.
Signs
- Headaches
- High temperature
- reaction to bright light
- confusion
- Drowsiness
- Fits
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Neck stiffness
- Rash
- Sore throat
- In babies, high pitched cry, breathing difficulties, neck or back may arch backwards
Symptoms
- Irritability
- Fontanelles swollen and tense
Factors which affect causes
More Likely if:
- Fractured skull
- spina bifida
- operation on the brain
- had ear/sinus/chest infection
- recent trip abroad
- mosquito bits
- contact with sewers
- drinking from mountain streams
- age
- alcohol consumption
- lowered immune system
Factors which affect the distribution
- Age
- institutional life
- schools
- old peoples homes
Methods of diagnosis
- Blood test to identify infection in the blood
After Effects
- Brain damage and epilepsy
- Death
- Distress from the family or friends of the deceesed
No comments:
Post a Comment