Question

Would you expect reported cases of urethritis to be higher pyleonephritis? Explain. Would you expect the ncidence of leptospirosis to be higher in urban or rural communities? Explain.

Answer 1

12) Urethritis is the inflammation of the urethra (tube that takes urine from the bladder to the outside). The inflammation is usually caused by bacterial infection.

Pyelonephritis is the infection of the kidney, caused by the ascension of pathogens through the urinary tract or by hematogenous spread (pathogen spread by the bloodstream). It is more common in women and seen in men that have some anatomical or functional defect. Pyelonephritis (infection in upper urinary tract) is less common than urethritis(infection of lower urinary tract). Most infections remain in the lower urinary tract where they cause symptoms, such as dysuria, demanding the patient’s attention. These infections are easily treated in most cases and the spread of the infection to other parts of the system is prevented. If the urethritis is not treated, the pathogen can travel to the kidneys through the ureters.

13) Leptospirosis is a disease caused by Leptospira and is spread through the urine of infected animals. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle ache, and if left untreated, liver damage, kidney failure, bleeding of lungs and meningitis. Most animals can get this disease, but it is commonly spread by rodents. Humans can catch the disease when they come in contact with an infected animal’s urine, soil, food or water contaminated with urine. Occurrence of this disease is higher in rural than in urban communities because chances of coming in contact with the animals is higher there. However, it can be found in slums where large number of people live in small areas along with their domesticated animals, and proper sanitaion facilities are unavailable. These areas often suffer from rodents such as mice.

The disease can be prevented by using protective gear while working with animals , using boiled water, throughly cleaning vegetables with clean water, maintaining hygiene while handling food, reducing rodents, vaccinating domesticated animals.