Well...it is Friday and we have the whole day to do work. Goals for the day are: wrap the body of the syringe with butcher paper and then paint it white, and do the measurement lines if we decide to do measurement lines. Samara and Miles are taking the first period of the morning to finish their short stories and study for the spanish test. Shhhh don't tell them I told you or they will be mad at me. We have Jordin (Sparks) comming in second period to teach us about Aids in Africa, andthird period Spencer is treating Matt and I to a Brett Peterson and Michelle Perez luncheon. So anyways, that will leave us the entire afternoon to work and accomplish the goals today.
P.S. my voice is gone so I'm glad that these blogs aren't recorded voices.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Samara off her rocker.
Miles built the syringe on Monday night, so we actually now have something to show for all our hard work, wink, wink! Samara and I for some reason keep putting off writing the stupid measurement line text. The measurement text really isn’t stupid, but Samara and I are for putting it off! Anyways, I still have to write my short story that is really stressing me out; Samara has made a materials list for Thursday. Ok, let me explain. As you know, we are having an art exhibit event all day at Seaport Village tomorrow, so we have no class time to work on this project. Thursday is going to be our hardcore working day. This is what we are planning on doing. First, we have to figure out a way to cover the body of the syringe so that it is smooth surface. Thoughts that have come to mind have been to use adhesive spray and teacher butcher paper, and plaster has also been brought up in conversation. So whatever we plan on doing, were doing on Thursday. Samara has a materials list that she made today and this is what it says in this order:
Adhesive spray
Silver spray paint
Sand paper
Clear label
Paint
Samara is bragging about her life right now and saying how it is not fair and she wants to “spread out her goodness”. She is also bragging about how she procrastinates, but still gets her work done in the morning and get this, she still gets A’s. Please Spencer don’t fail her after this blog because she will be sad. Back to our project, so according to Samara’s materials list we will maybe be sanding the syringe be and painting it. Samara is going to be rock star or a rapper. But most likely a rapper because they require less musical talent. Well, she can be a bad rock star and become an infamous rocker. Back to our project, I really don’t have anything else to say that you might find interesting, so I will end this lovely blog now…well almost.
P.S. Samara has fallen off her rocker..hahaha get it, today.
Adhesive spray
Silver spray paint
Sand paper
Clear label
Paint
Samara is bragging about her life right now and saying how it is not fair and she wants to “spread out her goodness”. She is also bragging about how she procrastinates, but still gets her work done in the morning and get this, she still gets A’s. Please Spencer don’t fail her after this blog because she will be sad. Back to our project, so according to Samara’s materials list we will maybe be sanding the syringe be and painting it. Samara is going to be rock star or a rapper. But most likely a rapper because they require less musical talent. Well, she can be a bad rock star and become an infamous rocker. Back to our project, I really don’t have anything else to say that you might find interesting, so I will end this lovely blog now…well almost.
P.S. Samara has fallen off her rocker..hahaha get it, today.
Janel's Class-to-the-work
DISEASE
1. Timeline
1805: The first outbreak of not yet named disease occurred in Geneva, Switzerland
1887: The bacteria which cause meningococcal disease is identified
1900-1910: 75-80% of people contracting meningococcal meningitis dies form the disease
1944: the newly invented penicillin is used to treat patients with meningococcal meningitis
1978: The first vaccine that protects against meningococcal meningitis is introduced
1982: The U.S. army vaccinates all recruits against meningococcal disease
1990s: The medical community recognizes that teens and young adults are at risk for meningococcal disease
1997: The American College Health Association (ACHA) recommends that colleges and universities inform all students and the parents about the risk of meningococcal disease. The ACHA also states that these schools should make sure all students have access to the vaccine.
1999: Vaccination is required by all four US military academies.
2000: The Advisory Community on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a part of centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends that colleges and universities inform all students and their parents about the risk of meningococcal disease and the availability of a vaccine.
Maryland becomes the first state to require college students living on campus to either receive meningococcal vaccination or sign a waiver stating that they have been told the risk and have refused the vaccine.
2003: New York becomes the first state to extend “vaccine or waiver” laws to cover summer camps and high schools.
2005: The FDA licenses a new meningococcal vaccine
ACIP recommends meningococcal vaccine for 11-12 year olds, students entering high school, and college freshman living in dorms.
http://www.fightmeningitis.com/meningitis-meningococcal-history-nonflash.html
2. The symptoms that occur to the body when contracted with meningococcal disease are first flu like symptoms such as a high fever, chills, and vomiting. Then a stiff neck will follow, and the feelings of just being sick will occur until treatment.
3. Meningococcal disease mostly affects young adults in the United States who attend college and live in the dorms. Young children and adults are susceptible to contracting the disease. People can get a vaccination for meningococcal meningitis and it is recommended that children and young adults become vaccinated, especially for college.
4. Meningococcal Disease is the inflammation of the layers that surround the spinal cord and the brain. These layers are called meninges and they protect the brain from injuries. Meningococcal Disease is caused by the bacterium called meningococcus. When meningococcal bacteria defeat the body’s defenses, it causes an infection. The bacteria break through the lining of the back of the throat and pass into the bloodstream. After, they start to multiply very rapidly, doubling in number around every thirty minutes. They can travel into the bloodstream to infect the meninges, therefore causing meningococcal.
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:E92iUtuXsk8J:www.meningitis-trust.org/disease_info/Meningococcal-Disease.pdf+what+happens+to+the+body+when+infected+with+meningococcal+disease&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
5. Meningococcal affects people who live in close quarters like college dorm rooms in the United States and small villages in Africa.
6. Humans contract meningococcal disease by coming in close contact with an infected person. The disease can be transmitted through kissing, coughing, and sharing utensils, food, and drinks.
7. The public perceives meningococcal disease as a college student’s disease because a lot of college students contract it while living in the dorm rooms. The public is not scared of the disease, because it is only common amongst college students, vaccinations are available, and the disease can be cured.
8. Meningococcal disease can be prevented with either a vaccination or not living in dorm rooms or in close quarters.
P.S. Because we are going to be at Seaport Village tomorrow, I am not planning to get any project work done. But Thursday is on!
1. Timeline
1805: The first outbreak of not yet named disease occurred in Geneva, Switzerland
1887: The bacteria which cause meningococcal disease is identified
1900-1910: 75-80% of people contracting meningococcal meningitis dies form the disease
1944: the newly invented penicillin is used to treat patients with meningococcal meningitis
1978: The first vaccine that protects against meningococcal meningitis is introduced
1982: The U.S. army vaccinates all recruits against meningococcal disease
1990s: The medical community recognizes that teens and young adults are at risk for meningococcal disease
1997: The American College Health Association (ACHA) recommends that colleges and universities inform all students and the parents about the risk of meningococcal disease. The ACHA also states that these schools should make sure all students have access to the vaccine.
1999: Vaccination is required by all four US military academies.
2000: The Advisory Community on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a part of centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends that colleges and universities inform all students and their parents about the risk of meningococcal disease and the availability of a vaccine.
Maryland becomes the first state to require college students living on campus to either receive meningococcal vaccination or sign a waiver stating that they have been told the risk and have refused the vaccine.
2003: New York becomes the first state to extend “vaccine or waiver” laws to cover summer camps and high schools.
2005: The FDA licenses a new meningococcal vaccine
ACIP recommends meningococcal vaccine for 11-12 year olds, students entering high school, and college freshman living in dorms.
http://www.fightmeningitis.com/meningitis-meningococcal-history-nonflash.html
2. The symptoms that occur to the body when contracted with meningococcal disease are first flu like symptoms such as a high fever, chills, and vomiting. Then a stiff neck will follow, and the feelings of just being sick will occur until treatment.
3. Meningococcal disease mostly affects young adults in the United States who attend college and live in the dorms. Young children and adults are susceptible to contracting the disease. People can get a vaccination for meningococcal meningitis and it is recommended that children and young adults become vaccinated, especially for college.
4. Meningococcal Disease is the inflammation of the layers that surround the spinal cord and the brain. These layers are called meninges and they protect the brain from injuries. Meningococcal Disease is caused by the bacterium called meningococcus. When meningococcal bacteria defeat the body’s defenses, it causes an infection. The bacteria break through the lining of the back of the throat and pass into the bloodstream. After, they start to multiply very rapidly, doubling in number around every thirty minutes. They can travel into the bloodstream to infect the meninges, therefore causing meningococcal.
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:E92iUtuXsk8J:www.meningitis-trust.org/disease_info/Meningococcal-Disease.pdf+what+happens+to+the+body+when+infected+with+meningococcal+disease&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us
5. Meningococcal affects people who live in close quarters like college dorm rooms in the United States and small villages in Africa.
6. Humans contract meningococcal disease by coming in close contact with an infected person. The disease can be transmitted through kissing, coughing, and sharing utensils, food, and drinks.
7. The public perceives meningococcal disease as a college student’s disease because a lot of college students contract it while living in the dorm rooms. The public is not scared of the disease, because it is only common amongst college students, vaccinations are available, and the disease can be cured.
8. Meningococcal disease can be prevented with either a vaccination or not living in dorm rooms or in close quarters.
P.S. Because we are going to be at Seaport Village tomorrow, I am not planning to get any project work done. But Thursday is on!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Janel's Home-to-the-work
PHARMACOLOGY
1. Penicillin
2./3. I don't want to draw the molecular structure for penicillin so I will put an image of it for you. The left one is the line-angle molecular structure and the right one is the molecular structure.
4. On my homework number four consisted of me circling and labeling the functional groups. The double bond "O" represents a ketone, the "HN" represents an amines, and the double bond "O" and single bond "OH" is carboxylic acid.
5. Pencillin is used to treat bacterial diseases. When penicillin interacts with bacteria in the body, it interferes withthe bacteria by hindering the synthesis of the cell wall. This makes the bacteria unable to multiply and spread and eventually kills it in the body.
6. Penicillin was develpoed by a Scottish born doctor named Alexander Fleming. In 1928, he discovered that stapholycocci could be dissolved by a fluid produced by the mould. That something that was dissolving the bacteria is now penicillin. Pzifer (Miles says Benxyl and Smara says there is too many to name) was teh company to successfully produce penicillin. In Africa it is very difficult to obtain penicillin because of the availibility.
7. The major side effects of penicillin are allergic reactions which cause chills, fever, and a rash.
8. In the Meningitis Belt in Africa, people infected with meningitis are treated with a single-dose of oily chloramphenicol. This drug is also effective against bacteria and is rarely prescribed for infections that can be treated with other antibiotics because of its toxicity.
P.S. Like I said in the post before, I did no work pertaining to this project this weekend...besides this homework.
1. Penicillin
2./3. I don't want to draw the molecular structure for penicillin so I will put an image of it for you. The left one is the line-angle molecular structure and the right one is the molecular structure.
4. On my homework number four consisted of me circling and labeling the functional groups. The double bond "O" represents a ketone, the "HN" represents an amines, and the double bond "O" and single bond "OH" is carboxylic acid.
5. Pencillin is used to treat bacterial diseases. When penicillin interacts with bacteria in the body, it interferes withthe bacteria by hindering the synthesis of the cell wall. This makes the bacteria unable to multiply and spread and eventually kills it in the body.
6. Penicillin was develpoed by a Scottish born doctor named Alexander Fleming. In 1928, he discovered that stapholycocci could be dissolved by a fluid produced by the mould. That something that was dissolving the bacteria is now penicillin. Pzifer (Miles says Benxyl and Smara says there is too many to name) was teh company to successfully produce penicillin. In Africa it is very difficult to obtain penicillin because of the availibility.
7. The major side effects of penicillin are allergic reactions which cause chills, fever, and a rash.
8. In the Meningitis Belt in Africa, people infected with meningitis are treated with a single-dose of oily chloramphenicol. This drug is also effective against bacteria and is rarely prescribed for infections that can be treated with other antibiotics because of its toxicity.
P.S. Like I said in the post before, I did no work pertaining to this project this weekend...besides this homework.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Penny for my Thoughts
So it is Friday afternoon, and frankly I just have other things on my mind besides this project. But I will muster up the willingness to discuss our progress in this project. Ok, well first thing is first, Miles bought some cylinder looking thing that will later become the body of our hypodermic needle. I think he is going to "prep" the cylinder thing this weekend and add a needle so that it looks like a hypodermic needle. Starting on the begining of next week, we will paint and get our measurement text written. I am afraid that because I am gone most of the whole weekend my blogs will not be interesting or engaging at all. I pre-apologise for that, and promise that my hard work next week will make up for that. Well, I am leaving school in twenty minutes and have really got no work done besides writing this wonderful blog. So I am going to do some of Janel's homework, so have a good weekend all!
P.S. I think my thoughts are worth way more then a penny!
P.S. I think my thoughts are worth way more then a penny!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Group To-Do List
These are the things that I (and the group) am hoping to get done, so let's cross our fingers!
1. Properly sketch the syringe and know the components
2. Buy Materials
3. Do Janel's molecular structure of our drug homework thing
4. Research content for syringe measuring lines
5. Write the content for syringe measuring lines
6. Blog everything in the process
7. Write short story
This list will probably get longer, but hopefully it will keep me on track.
P.S. Note to Self: Last project of the year, so let's go out with a bang!
1. Properly sketch the syringe and know the components
2. Buy Materials
3. Do Janel's molecular structure of our drug homework thing
4. Research content for syringe measuring lines
5. Write the content for syringe measuring lines
6. Blog everything in the process
7. Write short story
This list will probably get longer, but hopefully it will keep me on track.
P.S. Note to Self: Last project of the year, so let's go out with a bang!
Geography & Pharmacology
From the top of my head...well mostly:
Geography
Who has access to the drug?
The United States and other first world countries have access to penicillin. Sub-Saharan Africa has limited access to the antibiotic, but subsides to using oily chloramphenicol because of the lower cost and availability.
What impact does location in the world have on: a) exposure to the disease? b) conditions that cause it?
Location plays a huge role in the exposure of meningitis. In Sub-Saharan Africa, epidemics of meningitis are caused by the living quarters of the people. The close living spaces in Africa and the close living spaces in the United States (dorm rooms) increase the spread of meningitis because the bacterial disease is transmitted through coughing, sneezing, and kissing.
How has the disease evolved due to human or animal migration?
The disease has evolved due to humans living more closely together in tighter living spaces.
How does climate affect exposure to the disease?
In Sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season, dust winds can occur that cause respiratory track infections that increase the symptoms causing meningitis.
Pharmacology
What drug is used to treat the disease?
Penicillin is used to treat the drug in the United States and oily chloramphenicol is used in Sub-Saharan Africa.
How does the drug work in regard to: a) interaction with biological systems? b) molecular structure/functional groups?
Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with the ability to synthesize cell wall. Escherichia coli were incubated in penicillin for 30 minutes. The bacteria lengthen, but cannot divide. Eventually the weak cell wall ruptures.
How was the drug developed?
Penicillin was originally developed by a man named Alexander Flemming, but it wasn't until years later that Dr. Howard Florey started extensively researching on how penicillin actively kills bacteria.
Who has access to the drug?
First-world and rich countries
What is the cost of the drug?
Penicillin is cheap for Americans, but Africans have a hard time getting it because of the cost and availibility.
Are there potentially detrimental side effects?
There are no detrimental side effects of penicillin, but allergic reactions, diarrhea, chills, flu-like symptoms, seizures, and agitation can occur in some cases.
Are there more then one possible treatments? What are they?
Aside from penicillin, meningitis can be treated with oily chloramphenicol.
Here's what I think: Most of the questions I answered without using the internet, I think it will be interesting to see how much I answered correctly. Miles and Samara still have to do there two boxes, and I think as a group we will go over our answers, so we all have a basic understanding of our disease and drug. Overall, the research is comming along pretty good so far, but we need to focus on our text for the syringe!
P.S. Samara still won't even consider a meningitis vaccination, even after she watched the video.
Geography
Who has access to the drug?
The United States and other first world countries have access to penicillin. Sub-Saharan Africa has limited access to the antibiotic, but subsides to using oily chloramphenicol because of the lower cost and availability.
What impact does location in the world have on: a) exposure to the disease? b) conditions that cause it?
Location plays a huge role in the exposure of meningitis. In Sub-Saharan Africa, epidemics of meningitis are caused by the living quarters of the people. The close living spaces in Africa and the close living spaces in the United States (dorm rooms) increase the spread of meningitis because the bacterial disease is transmitted through coughing, sneezing, and kissing.
How has the disease evolved due to human or animal migration?
The disease has evolved due to humans living more closely together in tighter living spaces.
How does climate affect exposure to the disease?
In Sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season, dust winds can occur that cause respiratory track infections that increase the symptoms causing meningitis.
Pharmacology
What drug is used to treat the disease?
Penicillin is used to treat the drug in the United States and oily chloramphenicol is used in Sub-Saharan Africa.
How does the drug work in regard to: a) interaction with biological systems? b) molecular structure/functional groups?
Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with the ability to synthesize cell wall. Escherichia coli were incubated in penicillin for 30 minutes. The bacteria lengthen, but cannot divide. Eventually the weak cell wall ruptures.
How was the drug developed?
Penicillin was originally developed by a man named Alexander Flemming, but it wasn't until years later that Dr. Howard Florey started extensively researching on how penicillin actively kills bacteria.
Who has access to the drug?
First-world and rich countries
What is the cost of the drug?
Penicillin is cheap for Americans, but Africans have a hard time getting it because of the cost and availibility.
Are there potentially detrimental side effects?
There are no detrimental side effects of penicillin, but allergic reactions, diarrhea, chills, flu-like symptoms, seizures, and agitation can occur in some cases.
Are there more then one possible treatments? What are they?
Aside from penicillin, meningitis can be treated with oily chloramphenicol.
Here's what I think: Most of the questions I answered without using the internet, I think it will be interesting to see how much I answered correctly. Miles and Samara still have to do there two boxes, and I think as a group we will go over our answers, so we all have a basic understanding of our disease and drug. Overall, the research is comming along pretty good so far, but we need to focus on our text for the syringe!
P.S. Samara still won't even consider a meningitis vaccination, even after she watched the video.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Raya Sized Syringe
So, the three of us are building a "Raya sized" syringe. Samara is going to be in charge of what the context says and if it is acurate, Miles is going to be the leader of how we are actually building the syringe, and I am in charge of the aesthetics, and making sure it all looks pretty and acurate. That is where we are at so far. This week we will hopefully have most of the materials to start building, and Samara and I will research and write the measurement line text. I am really looking forward to how everything turns out and i pray that we will get everything done on time. Hopefully Miles will let me put up one of his sketches so you can see the direction we are taking in this project.
P.S. I still need to write my short story on top of this project. So cheers for now.
P.S. I still need to write my short story on top of this project. So cheers for now.
Drugs of Choice
Penicillin is an antibiotic for bacterial diseases, so it does make sense that it would be used to treat meningitis. Let me put it into context for you.
Who: Dr. Howard Florey and colleagues
What: began research on penicillin’s ability to cure bacterial diseases
When: 1939
Where: Oxford College, United States
Why: to find a cure for bacterial diseases
So basically, when penicillin was created it was considered a miracle drug of the 1940s.
This is how it works: "Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with the ability to synthesize cell wall. In this sequence, Escherichia coli were incubated in penicillin for 30 minutes. The bacteria lengthen, but cannot divide. Eventually the weak cell wall ruptures (last panel)."
http://www.cellsalive.com/pen.htm
So in other words penicillin attacks the bacteria so that it can not multiply, and then it eventually explodes...makes sense.
Oily Chloramphenicol is antibiotic that is effective against bacteria. Is rarely prescribed for infections that can be treated with other antibiotics because of its toxicity.
Penicillin Vs. Oily Chloramphenicol
During the 1999 meningitis epidemic in Africa, 793 people were treated with antibiotics. Of these people, 143 of them were treated with penicillin and because of limited stock, the rest of the people were treated with a single dose of oily chloramphenicol.
Here are the Results: "Males were slightly more affected than females (1.3:1), mean age affected was 17.2 years, the majority being below 20 years of age (68%) while 27.3% were below 10 years. The peak of the epidemic was during late March and early April namely 9th and 10th epidemic weeks. In the penicillin group 87.1% recovered uneventfully, 6.4% died, 2.1% developed blindness and 1.5% partial deafness. In the chloramphenicol group, full recovery was reported in 92.8%, 5% fatalities, blindness in 0.5%, partial deafness in 0.3% and skin necrosis in 0.1%. So, obviously the oily chloramphenicol was a lot more efficient in curing the patients. It is easy to use, cheap, and safe, and will probably be to treat epidemics in the future, rather then penicillin."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12174228&dopt=Abstract
Here's what I think: Medicine is so much more complicated then anyone could ever imagine. Maybe, the oily chloramphenicol is better to treat people in Africa with, and penicillin is better for Americans. The whole antibiotics deal is very interesting to me, but thoes results that I found blew me away!
P.S. Since we are focusing on the meningitis belt in Africa, maybe our syringe should be of oily chloramphenicol.
Who: Dr. Howard Florey and colleagues
What: began research on penicillin’s ability to cure bacterial diseases
When: 1939
Where: Oxford College, United States
Why: to find a cure for bacterial diseases
So basically, when penicillin was created it was considered a miracle drug of the 1940s.
This is how it works: "Penicillin kills bacteria by interfering with the ability to synthesize cell wall. In this sequence, Escherichia coli were incubated in penicillin for 30 minutes. The bacteria lengthen, but cannot divide. Eventually the weak cell wall ruptures (last panel)."
http://www.cellsalive.com/pen.htm
So in other words penicillin attacks the bacteria so that it can not multiply, and then it eventually explodes...makes sense.
Oily Chloramphenicol is antibiotic that is effective against bacteria. Is rarely prescribed for infections that can be treated with other antibiotics because of its toxicity.
Penicillin Vs. Oily Chloramphenicol
During the 1999 meningitis epidemic in Africa, 793 people were treated with antibiotics. Of these people, 143 of them were treated with penicillin and because of limited stock, the rest of the people were treated with a single dose of oily chloramphenicol.
Here are the Results: "Males were slightly more affected than females (1.3:1), mean age affected was 17.2 years, the majority being below 20 years of age (68%) while 27.3% were below 10 years. The peak of the epidemic was during late March and early April namely 9th and 10th epidemic weeks. In the penicillin group 87.1% recovered uneventfully, 6.4% died, 2.1% developed blindness and 1.5% partial deafness. In the chloramphenicol group, full recovery was reported in 92.8%, 5% fatalities, blindness in 0.5%, partial deafness in 0.3% and skin necrosis in 0.1%. So, obviously the oily chloramphenicol was a lot more efficient in curing the patients. It is easy to use, cheap, and safe, and will probably be to treat epidemics in the future, rather then penicillin."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12174228&dopt=Abstract
Here's what I think: Medicine is so much more complicated then anyone could ever imagine. Maybe, the oily chloramphenicol is better to treat people in Africa with, and penicillin is better for Americans. The whole antibiotics deal is very interesting to me, but thoes results that I found blew me away!
P.S. Since we are focusing on the meningitis belt in Africa, maybe our syringe should be of oily chloramphenicol.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Mengi Belt
Suspected meningitis cases, deaths, reported to WHO by affected countries in Africa, as of 17 March 2006
Country,Cases,Deaths
Burkina Faso*,3636,399
Côte d'Ivoire,130,40
Kenya,74,15
Mali,160,9
Niger,614,44
Sudan W. Darfur IDP camps **,28,1
Sudan other states,526,23
Uganda Gulu district ***,37,5
Uganda other districts,514,44
Total: 5719 cases and 580 deaths
* Total number of cases includes number of deaths
2007
Sudan: 1000 people died in a week from meningitis in the midst of a civil war.
“There is an outbreak of meningitis…spreading fast throughout the state and there is fear it may affect other neighboring states,” Anthony Bol Madut
Uganda: 241 cases and 16 deaths in the first three weeks of the New Year
Burkina Faso: In this years epidemic 19,549 people have been infected with Meningitis from January-April, 2,000 people have become disabled, and 1,337 people have already died
http://mediaglobal.org/index.php/2007/01/26/deadly-outbreak-in-africa%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cmeningitis-belt%e2%80%9d/
Here’s what I really think?
The essential question that we came up with is what social, economic, or environmental factors cause the sub-Saharan African “Meningitis Belt” to have large epidemics of Meningitis which rarely occur in first-world countries? So, I thought it would be smart to actually research the Meningitis Belt and how organizations like WHO are helping to prevent the disease in these countries. In case I haven’t mentioned it already, the group has decided to build a syringe with facts on it. We are all super excited about it! I am sure you can tell! I have decided that my future goal for this project is to research on the vaccinations they use to treat the people of the meningitis belt so that we can properly write and organize our syringe steps. I should also learn about penicillin, since that is our drug of choice; I will save it for the next blog. Cheers for now.
P.S. I have decided that Africa has too many problems. Also, Samara should watch my meningococcal video.
Country,Cases,Deaths
Burkina Faso*,3636,399
Côte d'Ivoire,130,40
Kenya,74,15
Mali,160,9
Niger,614,44
Sudan W. Darfur IDP camps **,28,1
Sudan other states,526,23
Uganda Gulu district ***,37,5
Uganda other districts,514,44
Total: 5719 cases and 580 deaths
* Total number of cases includes number of deaths
2007
Sudan: 1000 people died in a week from meningitis in the midst of a civil war.
“There is an outbreak of meningitis…spreading fast throughout the state and there is fear it may affect other neighboring states,” Anthony Bol Madut
Uganda: 241 cases and 16 deaths in the first three weeks of the New Year
Burkina Faso: In this years epidemic 19,549 people have been infected with Meningitis from January-April, 2,000 people have become disabled, and 1,337 people have already died
http://mediaglobal.org/index.php/2007/01/26/deadly-outbreak-in-africa%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cmeningitis-belt%e2%80%9d/
Here’s what I really think?
The essential question that we came up with is what social, economic, or environmental factors cause the sub-Saharan African “Meningitis Belt” to have large epidemics of Meningitis which rarely occur in first-world countries? So, I thought it would be smart to actually research the Meningitis Belt and how organizations like WHO are helping to prevent the disease in these countries. In case I haven’t mentioned it already, the group has decided to build a syringe with facts on it. We are all super excited about it! I am sure you can tell! I have decided that my future goal for this project is to research on the vaccinations they use to treat the people of the meningitis belt so that we can properly write and organize our syringe steps. I should also learn about penicillin, since that is our drug of choice; I will save it for the next blog. Cheers for now.
P.S. I have decided that Africa has too many problems. Also, Samara should watch my meningococcal video.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Overview
Meningococcal (ME-NING-GO-KOK-AL) disease is a serious bacterial infection. It can cause meningitis—severe swelling of the brain and spinal cord
NOTES
Overview: 1805- Meningococcal was first known when an outbreak occurred in Geneva, Switzerland; 12 subtypes of meningitis have been identified, 4 subtypes can cause epidemics
Disease Transmission: Bacteria are transmitted from person to person (no animals) through respiratory droplets or throat secretions (ex: kissing, coughing, sneezing, and sharing close quarters, drinks, and utensils).
Diagnosis: examinations of bacteria in spinal fluid
Treatment: antibiotics include penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and ceftriaxone. In Africa oily chloramphenicol is the drug of choice in areas with limited health facilities because a single dose of this long-acting formulation has been shown to be effective.
Who is affected and where?: Cases increase in winter and spring in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. United States: popular amongst college students (dorm rooms), high school students, and adolescents
The African Meningitis Belt: Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal-Ethiopia), 300 million people; dry climates with wind cause respiratory track infections and overcrowded housing increase symptoms for meningitis. In 1996 Africa experienced the largest meningococcal meningitis epidemic with 250,000 cases and 25,000 deaths. Most affected countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, and Niger.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/index.html
Now Here's What I Really Think: For this project I think that it would be interesting to compare the effects of meningococcal meningitis from its epidemics in Africa to its popularity in the United States. One thing that I noticed that they both had in common were that the disease spreads when people are close in contact with eachother (dorm rooms in the US and housing in Africa), and this is how many people become affected. Also one thing that I found very interseting was that in Africa the oily chloramphenicol is used to treat people because of its long term effects. What exactly is this drug and how does it work? Does it prolong the human life and does it work to help cure the disease? I think it is interesting that this drug is given to people in Africa and I am really interested in how it really works. I want to research more in what is being done to prevent this disease and I think that because it occurs almost everywhere, how the environment plays a role in contracting the disease. There are 12 subtype groups of meningitis and I would like to understand why the different types occur in different areas and what are the major differences between them. Penicillin is the drug that we would be studying and so I would want to see how it treats bacterial diseases. While researching I realized how serious this disease actually is and if you don't see a doctor right away, it could be fatal.
If this doesn't make you want to get a Meningitis vaccination...I don't know what will.
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=42829
P.S. Samara's Blog makes me laugh, I only wish I could be as honest as her and Miles brown template makes me smile. :)
NOTES
Overview: 1805- Meningococcal was first known when an outbreak occurred in Geneva, Switzerland; 12 subtypes of meningitis have been identified, 4 subtypes can cause epidemics
Disease Transmission: Bacteria are transmitted from person to person (no animals) through respiratory droplets or throat secretions (ex: kissing, coughing, sneezing, and sharing close quarters, drinks, and utensils).
Diagnosis: examinations of bacteria in spinal fluid
Treatment: antibiotics include penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and ceftriaxone. In Africa oily chloramphenicol is the drug of choice in areas with limited health facilities because a single dose of this long-acting formulation has been shown to be effective.
Who is affected and where?: Cases increase in winter and spring in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. United States: popular amongst college students (dorm rooms), high school students, and adolescents
The African Meningitis Belt: Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal-Ethiopia), 300 million people; dry climates with wind cause respiratory track infections and overcrowded housing increase symptoms for meningitis. In 1996 Africa experienced the largest meningococcal meningitis epidemic with 250,000 cases and 25,000 deaths. Most affected countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, and Niger.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/index.html
Now Here's What I Really Think: For this project I think that it would be interesting to compare the effects of meningococcal meningitis from its epidemics in Africa to its popularity in the United States. One thing that I noticed that they both had in common were that the disease spreads when people are close in contact with eachother (dorm rooms in the US and housing in Africa), and this is how many people become affected. Also one thing that I found very interseting was that in Africa the oily chloramphenicol is used to treat people because of its long term effects. What exactly is this drug and how does it work? Does it prolong the human life and does it work to help cure the disease? I think it is interesting that this drug is given to people in Africa and I am really interested in how it really works. I want to research more in what is being done to prevent this disease and I think that because it occurs almost everywhere, how the environment plays a role in contracting the disease. There are 12 subtype groups of meningitis and I would like to understand why the different types occur in different areas and what are the major differences between them. Penicillin is the drug that we would be studying and so I would want to see how it treats bacterial diseases. While researching I realized how serious this disease actually is and if you don't see a doctor right away, it could be fatal.
If this doesn't make you want to get a Meningitis vaccination...I don't know what will.
http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=42829
P.S. Samara's Blog makes me laugh, I only wish I could be as honest as her and Miles brown template makes me smile. :)
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