Smallpox - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Smallpox

What is smallpox?

Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans caused by two virus variants called Variola major and Variola minor. V. major is the more deadly form, with a typical mortality of 20-40 percent of those infected. The other type, V. minor, only kills 1% of its victims. Many survivors are left blind, and scarring is nearly universal. Smallpox was responsible for an estimated 300-500 million deaths in the 20th century.

Types of smallpox

Two main Types of smallpox :

1. Variola minor - Variola minor has a 1-2% fatality rate in unvaccinated individuals.
2. Variola major - Variola major is the more severe form and has a 30-50% fatality rate among those who are unvaccinated (3% in vaccinated persons).

1. Hemorrhagic smallpox - This form is characterized by a red, pinpoint rash and bleeding in the skin and mucous membranes. In some cases, hemorrhagic smallpox may destroy the entire skin surface and all mucous membranes. Hemorrhagic smallpox is almost always fatal within five to seven days.
2. Malignant smallpox - This form is also often fatal. The early signs and symptoms are similar to other forms of the disease, but the lesions are velvety and never become filled with pus. Eventually, the skin takes on a rubbery appearance. Bleeding in the skin and intestinal tract also may occur.

Causes of smallpox

The main cause of smallpox is caused by variola virus of genus orthopoxvirus. Variola virus period is about 12 days. A characteristic rash is most prominent on the face, arms, and legs, follows in 2-3 days. The rash starts with flat red lesions. Lesions become pus-filled and begin to crust early in the second week.

Symptoms of smallpox

The symptoms of smallpox usually appear 10 to12 days after you're infected. During the incubation period of 8 to 15 days, you look and feel healthy and can't infect others.

Some of common symptoms of smallpox are:

• Fever
• A feeling of bodily discomfort (malaise)
• Headache
• Severe fatigue (prostration)
• Severe back pain
• Chickenpox-like skin rashes
• Diarrhea
• Excessive bleeding
• Flu-like symptoms

After few days smallpox rash appears as flat, red spots (lesions). Within a day or two, many of these lesions turn into small blisters filled with clear fluid (vesicles) and later, with pus (pustules). The rash appears first on your face, hands and forearms and later on the trunk. It's usually most noticeable on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. Lesions also develop in the mucous membranes of your nose and mouth. The way the lesions are distributed is a hallmark of smallpox and a primary way of diagnosing the disease.

Treatment of Smallpox

There is no known treatment of smallpox. Studies are being performed to determine if certain antiviral drugs will be effective, but this research is still in the early stages. Smallpox can be prevented with vaccination. Vaccination up to 3 days after exposure will prevent smallpox or significantly reduce the symptoms and likelihood of death. Vaccination 4 to 7 days after exposure may still be helpful in reducing symptoms.

Home remedies of small-pox

• Pure ghee applied over throat, chest, nose - may help you in curing cough and other respiratory problems.
• Old ghee should be rubbed over forehead to ward off delirium.
• Isolating the person until all the scabs have fallen off-about 3 to 4 weeks after the rash first appears-is necessary to prevent spreading the infection to others.