7 Infections You Might Catch During SHTF – And How They Are Treated

image © – Wikipedia – (PD)

When an unexpected tragedy such as a natural disaster or war occurs, many subsequent problems can arise. A major concern for these times is the spreading of communicable diseases and these often kill more people than the original disaster. These are often caused by lack of clean water, medical supplies or sanitation and too many people placed in a small area.

Note that this can happen even in the “First World”: Diseases such as Cholera, Tuberculosis and Salmonella were reported after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Response teams acted swiftly to contain all diseases and prevent further contamination. It makes you wonder, what if they had been in a situation where medical help was unavailable? How quick would they have spread?

Prevention for all these diseases include boiling or filtering drinking water, good hygiene and prevention of food contamination. Be sure to wash hands often after using the restroom and before eating.

Here are 7 diseases to be cautious of and some methods used to treat them (note, this is not medical advice nor a substitute for medical advice).

Cholera – a bacterial disease that causes infection in intestines.

Symptoms:
• Excessive amounts of watery diarrhea for several days
• Vomiting
• Dehydration – this can happen in a few short hours due to the severe diarrhea
If a fever occurs, it could be sign of an additional infection.
Spread by:
• Food contaminated by human feces
• Water contaminated by human feces
• Undercooked foods such as:
• Crab
• Shrimp
• Oysters
Treatment:
In addition to urgent medical care, rehydration is absolutely necessary. To make a simple drink filled with electrolytes:
• 1 liter boiled water
• ½ tsp salt
• 6 tsp sugar
• 1 mashed banana
•
Dysentery – caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa and plastic worms. It causes inflammation of the intestines and colon

Symptoms:
• Diarrhea with mucus or blood
• Fever
• Abdominal Pain
• Feeling of Incomplete Defecation
•
Spread by:
• Contaminated Water
• Lack of Hygiene and Sanitary Practices
Treatment:
• Rehydration – may need intravenous fluids
•
Tuberculosis –aka TB- bacterial infection of the lungs

Symptoms:
• Chronic cough including blood
• Fever
• Chills
• Night Sweats
• Loss of Appetite
• Weight Loss
Not all people will show symptoms. If this occurs they are not contagious.

Spread by:

• Respiratory fluid droplets from
• Sneeze
• Spit
• Cough
Treatment:

• 4 – drug regimen lasting 6 months
• Rest
• Proper nutrition
• Garlic oil

Typhoid – symptomatic bacterial infection cause by Salmonella typhi

Symptoms:
• Fever
• Weakness
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Rash
• Confusion
Spread by:
• Food or water containing feces
•
Treatment:
• Antibiotics
• Azithromycin
• Fluoroquinolones
• Third generation cephalosporins
•
Epidemic Typhus – rickettsial disease named due to being commonly found in wars and natural disasters.

Symptoms:
• Headache
• Fever
• Cough
• Rash
• Muscle Pain
• Chill
• Falling Blood Pressure
• Stupor
• Sensitivity to Light
• Delirium
• Death
Spread by:
• Infected lice biting uninfected human
• When the bite is itched, the infected lice feces enters the body
Treatment:
• Antibiotics
• Intravenous fluids
• Oxygen
•
MRSA – contagious strain of staph bacteria that can spread to joints, lungs, heart, brain or other organs.

Symptoms:
• May look like a spider bite at first, but redness will spread
• Warm to the touch
• Pain on and around red area.
• Pus or draining
• Fever
Spread by:
• Skin – to – skin contact with the infected
• Spreads easier to those with lower immune systems
•
Treatment:
• Pure Melaleuca – aka Tea Tree oil
• Manuka honey
• Turmeric
• Mixture containing
• Charcoal powder
• Turmeric powder
• Tea tree oil
•
Norovirus – viral gastroenteritis known as a stomach bug

Symptoms:
• Nausea
• Projectile Vomiting
• Watery Diarrhea
• Abdominal Pain
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Muscle Aches
• Headache
• Fever
Spread by:
• Contaminated food and water
• Person – to – person contact
• Poor personal hygiene
• Contact with contaminated counters
Treatment:
• Rest
• Nutrition
• Rehydration – you may use electrolyte drinks to speed recovery.

Check out this tutorial on How To Make A Real All-Natural Electrolyte Drink