What causes black fever?
It is transmitted through the bite of the sandfly (Phlebotomus argentipes) infected with the parasite Leishmania donovani. It causes emaciation, enlargement of the spleen and liver, anaemia and fever, and in chronic cases leads to darkening of the skin, hence the name.
When did the black fever start?
The disease became known as Leishmaniasis after William Leishman, a Glasgwegian doctor seving with the British Army in India , developed one of the earliest stains of Leishmania in 1901.
What is the main cause of kala azar?
Leishmaniasis is caused by a protozoa parasite from over 20 Leishmania species. Over 90 sandfly species are known to transmit Leishmania parasites. There are 3 main forms of the disease: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases.
Why Kala azar is named so?
The term “kala-azar” comes from India where it is the Hindi for black fever. The disease is also known as Indian leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis, leishmania infection, dumdum fever, black sickness, and black fever.
Why kala azar turns skin black?
The characteristic skin hyperpigmentation is thought to be caused by melanocyte stimulation and xerosis caused by leishmania infection. the high level of cortisol in patients with visceral leishmaniasis.
Why is it called dum dum fever?
The agent of the disease was also first isolated in India by Scottish doctor William Leishman (who observed the parasite in spleen smears of a soldier who died of the disease in Dumdum, Calcutta, India – hence the name dumdum fever) and Irish physician Charles Donovan, working independently of each other.
Which disease is also known as dum dum fever?
Dumdum fever: Also called kala-azar, a chronic, potentially fatal parasitic disease of the viscera (the internal organs) due to infection by an agent called Leishmania donovani.
Is black fever contagious?
Bubonic and septicemic plague are only rarely spread from person to person; transmission occurs when fleas feed on infected rodents and then bite people.
What happens Black Fever?
Blackwater fever has a high mortality. Its symptoms include a rapid pulse, high fever and chills, extreme prostration, a rapidly developing anemia, and the passage of urine that is black or dark red in colour (hence the disease’s name).
Which disease is known as black water fever?
Blackwater fever (BWF) is a rare but serious complication of malaria that is a consequence of antimalarial treatment. Its prevalence seems to have increased. Its diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and urine color. We report on 4 BWF cases admitted to the infectious diseases department of Zinder National Hospital.
Is there a black fever?
The black fever Kala-azar was first discovered in Bengal (encompassing today’s Bangladesh and parts of India, including, during the colonial era, Bihar), where it received its name, which means “black fever” in Hindi. It causes fever, weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, and anaemia.
What does it mean when your water’s gone black?
Minerals, including iron and magnesium, algae, pipe degradation and resin beads can all cause black water. Magnesium is often found in water and when mixed with oxygen, turns black.
Can black water make you sick?
Blackwater may come from toilets containing remnants of human waste, fecal matter, and a wide variety of bacteria. Exposure to this form of black water can lead to serious illnesses and sometimes even death. Simply removing the water in affected areas doesn’t remove the bacteria from the surfaces of your home.
Which drug is used in the treatment of black water fever *?
Blackwater fever is much less common today than it was before 1950. It may be that quinine plays a role in triggering the condition, and this drug is no longer commonly used for malaria prophylaxis. Quinine remains important for treatment of malaria.
Why is my hot well water black?
The incidence of rotten egg odor or black water in hot water lines is due to the reaction of sulfates and micro-organisms in the water that create Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). This is a water chemistry condition, rather than a water heater problem.
What is the black stuff coming out of my shower head?
Assuming that you’re seeing the black bits only when you occasionally wipe the faucet spout and shower head, the deposits are probably oxidized manganese, a mineral that’s often found in trace amounts along with iron in drinking water. Iron and manganese are actually essential for good health — in trace amounts.
How do you get black gunk out of faucet?
Baking soda is great at cleaning most surfaces. We’d recommend applying a small amount of baking soda to an old toothbrush and adding a very small drop of water. Scrub around your kitchen and bathroom faucets with the solution applied to the toothbrush to remove nasty stains.
How is manganese removed from water?
Conventional water softeners are sometimes effective for removing iron and small amounts of manganese. Water softeners are typically used to remove calcium and magnesium hardness in water by an exchange process. The calcium and magnesium are removed from the water and sodium is added in their place.
What are the side effects of too much manganese?
If you take too much manganese as supplements, you could have side effects. These can include loss of appetite, slowed growth, and reproductive issues. It may also cause anemia. This is because manganese competes with iron for absorption.
Does boiling water get rid of manganese?
Boil the water as boiling will not destroy manganese. If boiled too long, the manganese will be concentrated in the water. Freeze or try to filter the water through paper filters to remove manganese as neither will reduce its concentrations.