T Illness Details
Tickborne Encephalitis
What is it?
Tick-borne encephalitis, or TBE, is a human viral infectious disease involving the central nervous system.
Symptoms
Fever, headache, and a stiff neck or encephalitis (e.g., drowsiness, confusion, sensory disturbances, and/or motor abnormalities such as paralysis) or meningoencephalitis.
Transmission
Ticks act as both the vector and reservoir for TBEV. The main hosts are small rodents, with humans being accidental hosts. Large animals are feeding hosts for the ticks, but do not play a role in maintenance of the virus.
Additional Information
Toxoplasmosis
What is it?
An infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that can threaten the health of an unborn child.
Symptoms
Most of the time there are no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they can resemble the flu and include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and swollen lymph glands.
Transmission
You can get the infection from handling soil or cat litter that contains cat feces infected with the parasite. You can also get it from eating undercooked meat from animals infected with the parasite or from uncooked foods that have come in contact with contaminated meat.
Additional Information
Trachoma
What is it?
Trachoma is one of the most common causes of blindness in the developing world. It is linked to extreme poverty and poor sanitation. It is triggered by bacteria that causes repeated conjunctivitis, irritating the eyes and creating mucous discharge.
Symptoms
Eyelid turning inward, which in turn causes the eyelashes to rub on the eyeball, resulting in intense pain and scarring of the front of the eye. Eye mucous discharge.
Transmission
The discharge from infected eyes attract flies that then land on the other people’s skin. People in crowded households or neighborhoods are particularly vulnerable.
Additional Information
Traveler's Diarrhea
What is it?
Traveler’s diarrhea is a stomach and intestinal infection that occurs as a result of unsanitary handling of food. There is a high risk of getting Traveler’s diarrhea by eating food from streeet vendors. Usually lasts from 3 to 7 days.
Symptoms
Abrupt onset of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, bloating, urgent need to have a bowel movement, weakness or discomfort, explosive and painful gas, cramps, loss of appetite.
Transmission
By eating food from food handlers who do not wash their hands properly after they use the bathroom.
Additional Information
Tuberculosis
What is it?
A bacterial Infection that is most often found in the lungs and can spread to other parts of the body. Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, slow-growing bacteria that thrice in areas of the body that are rich in blood and oxygen such as the lungs.
Symptoms
Ongoing cough that brings up thick cloudy, and sometimes bloody mucus from the lungs. Weight Loss. Night sweats and fever. Rapid Heartbeat. Swelling in the neck.(lymph nodes) Shortness of breath and chest pain.
Transmission
It can be spread by inhaling the air of an infected person. (Coughing/laughing)
Additional Information
Tularemia
What is it?
Tularemia is an infectious disease caused by a hardy bacterium, Francisella tularensis, found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares).
Symptoms
Symptoms of tularemia could include sudden fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, progressive weakness, and pneumonia.
Transmission
People can get tularemia many different ways, such as through the bite of an infected insect or other arthropod (usually a tick or deerfly), handling infected animal carcasses, eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or breathing in F. tularensis.
Additional Information
Typhoid Fever
What is it?
Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by Salmonella bacteria. It is a serious illness that can sometimes be fatal. Today, less that 500 cases are reported annually in the United States.
Symptoms
Chills, fever, headache, tiredness, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pains, and constipation or diarrhea.
Transmission
The bacteria is spread through contaminated food, drink, or water and can spread from person to person.
Additional Information
