Understanding Smallpox: Symptoms, Treatment and its Eradication
Smallpox was a deadly and highly infectious disease that posed a significant health risk before its successful eradication. At least 30% of those infected died, while others suffered severe scarring and vision loss. The development of the smallpox vaccine marked a major step forward in the field of modern medicine. This article explores what smallpox is, how it spread, different types of smallpox, its symptoms, how it was eradicated, its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Tracing the History of Smallpox
Despite the mystery surrounding its origins, experts believe that smallpox has afflicted people for some 3,000 years, with traces of similar rashes found on mummies from ancient Egypt. The smallpox virus, a member of the orthopoxvirus family, has found mentions in Chinese writings dating back to the fourth century. Over centuries, the virus spread globally due to human activity, trade, growth of empires, colonialism and the slave trade.
The Spread of Smallpox
Smallpox was a fast-dispersing, highly deadly disease. The virus was contracted through bodily fluids from infected individuals, airborne transmission by saliva droplets, and contact with the clothing or bedding of infected individuals.
Recognizing Different Types of Smallpox
Smallpox had four main variants – Variola minor, Malignant smallpox, Variola major, and Hemorrhagic smallpox. Each variant had different fatality rates and symptoms, with some presenting as hard, pus-filled bumps on the skin.
Steps Towards Eradicating Smallpox
Several factors contributed towards the eradication of smallpox, including its slow spread, the ease of identifying infected persons due to distinctive symptoms, and strategic outbreak management through ring vaccinations. The disease was mainly spread among close contacts, making its containment more manageable.
Is Smallpox Still Present Today?
Smallpox is the only infectious disease successfully eradicated. The remaining variola virus samples exist only in certain secure laboratories. The disease was finally defeated after Edward Jenner developed the first effective vaccine in history in the late eighteenth century.
Understanding the Symptoms of Smallpox
Symptoms of smallpox included fever, sores, severe headaches, abdomin pain and extreme exhaustion. The initial symptoms, such as fever and headache, would last for 2-4 days. The trademark rash would appear after these symptoms.
Diagnosing Smallpox
While rashes can be symptoms of various illnesses, smallpox was characterized by a high fever before the rash appeared on the skin, accompanied by additional symptoms such as severe exhaustion, headache, and acute abdominal pain.
The Treatment of Smallpox
Historically, smallpox treatment involved isolating the patient until all the scabs had fallen off. More recently, tecovirimat (TPOXX), an antiviral medication, was approved by the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in 2018 to treat smallpox. Although it has not been tested on humans due to the eradication of the disease, the drug has shown promising results in laboratory conditions.
Preventing Smallpox
Preventing the spread of smallpox involved isolating the infected individual until they no longer posed a risk of transmitting the disease. There is also a vaccine available that has played a crucial role in the eradication of the disease.