NOTIFIABLE DISEASES REPORT

Each week the public health department of the Orange County Health Care Agency reports to the state the incidence of various notifiable diseases in the county. The following table details a selection of these afflictions for February, the most recent month for which information is available:

NUMBER OF CASES February Current Previous Year to Date % Disease 1990 Year to Year to Change, ‘89-’90 Date Date Acquired immune 35 81 54 +50 deficiency syndrome (AIDS) Alzheimer’s disease 17 33 N/A -- and related conditions Campylobacter 18 33 22 +50 Chlamydial infections 87 184 N/A -- Lapse of consciousness 175 354 200 +77 (non-alcohol related) Giardiasis 34 59 73 -19 Gonococcal infection 85 191 379 -50 Hepatitis A 32 58 70 -17 Hepatitis B 45 80 65 +23 Measles 24 34 11 +209 Non-specific urethritis 205 377 N/A -- Salmonellosis 14 30 38 -27 Shigellosis 23 34 47 -28 Syphilis 29 67 121 -45 TOTAL NOTIFIABLE DISEASES 1,032 2,113 1,888 +12

“Control of Communicable Diseases In Man,” an official report of the American Public Health Assn., Abram S. Benenson, editor, 1985, 4th edition.

“Better Homes and Gardens Family Medical Guide,” Donald G. Cooley, editor, 1973, 2nd edition.

“The Bantam Medical Dictionary,” prepared by Laurence Urdang Associates Ltd., 1982.

“Stedman’s Medical Dictionary,” Williams and Wilkins Co., 1973, 22nd edition.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome: Fatal disease that attacks the body’s immune system. Is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. Transmitted by sexual contact, exposure to contaminated blood and from an infected mother to her newborn.

Alzheimer’s disease: A progressive form of middle-age dementia sometimes marked by memory disorders, impaired reasoning, personality changes and other symptoms.

Campylobacter: Characterized by sudden, acute diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. Associated with foods poorly refrigerated or improperly cooked, unpasteurized milk and unchlorinated water.

Chlamydial infections: A predominantly sexually transmitted viral disease that can be identified either by culture or other lab test.

Giardiasis: A protozoan infection principally of the upper small intestine. May be associated with a variety of intestinal symptoms such as chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramps and bloating, fatigue and weight loss. Contracted by ingesting contaminated food or water.

Gonococcal infections: Sexually transmitted bacterial diseases that differ in males and females in terms of course, severity and recognition.

Hepatitis A: An acute viral illness affecting the liver. Occurs mostly in children and young adults. Usually transmitted by oral ingestion of infected material or by poor sanitation.

Hepatitis B: An acute illness of the liver transmitted by exposure to contaminated needles, by administration of blood or blood products and/or oral ingestion of contaminated material.

Measles: A highly infectious viral disease tending to appear in epidemics. Mainly affects children.

Non-specific urethritis: An infection often caused by chlamydia (see above), but reported without proof of its cause.

Salmonellosis: A bacterial disease characterized by the sudden onset of a headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dehydration and fever. Contracted by eating contaminated food.

Shigellosis: Acute diarrhea acquired by person-to-person contact, through eating contaminated food or by handling contaminated objects.

Syphilis: A chronic venereal disease caused by a spirochete and transmitted by sexual intercourse. The first symptom, a chancre, appears after an incubation period of 12 to 30 days and is followed by a slight fever.

Tuberculosis: A mycobacterial disease that usually affects the lungs. General symptoms include sweats, hectic fever and severe weight loss.