CLINICAL MEDICINE

MEDICINE

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
How intense were the clinical symptoms of cowpox as compared to smallpox in humans?
A
More intense
B
Less intense
C
Same intensity
D
We cannot compare them as they are caused by two different viruses
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Cowpox is similar to, but much milder than, the highly contagious and often deadly smallpox disease. Its close resemblance to the mild form of smallpox and the observation that dairy farmers were immune to smallpox inspired the modern smallpox vaccine, created and administered by English physician Edward Jenner.

Detailed explanation-2: -The disease in humans presents as localised lesions mainly on fingers, hands or the face, in the form of red blisters. The disease is self-limiting in immunocompetent persons. No specific treatment is available. There is no known evidence of human to human transmission of the virus.

Detailed explanation-3: -Since small pox virus is closely related to cowpox virus, the milkmaids who had cowpox were now resistant to the smallpox virus.

Detailed explanation-4: -Chickenpox is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, and smallpox is caused by the Variola virus. Smallpox spots are smaller, the amount of fluid in the pimples is less. Chickenpox blisters look like water bubbles, break easily and cause infection if not kept clean.

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