5.3 A newborn baby was born at home and the birth was attended by the
grandmother in the mother's room. After a few weeks the baby is unable to
open her mouth and suck and is making unusual facial expressions. He is very
stiff and his muscles seem to go into spasms whenever he hears a loud noise.
5.3.1 What disease do you think he has?
(1)
5.3.2 What could have been done during and after his birth to prevent this
from happening?
(2)
5.3.3 This disease is earmarked for elimination. Explain the strategy
employed to eliminate this disease.
(3)
5.4 A lady who has only lived in Windhoek all her life, travels to Oshakati during
the summer for a work event which involved outdoor exhibitions till late at
night. After returning to Windhoek, she begins to feel ill, and eventually has a
high fever with chills and shivering, severe headache, joint pains, nausea and
vomiting and abdominal discomfort. She has never experienced this type of
illness before.
5.4.1 What would be your first suspicion of what is wrong with her? How
could she have acquired the condition?
(2)
5.4.2 Outline the names of the organism and vector involved in causation of
this disease.
(2)
5.4.3 What advise would you have given her to prevent the disease before
she travelled for the event?
(3)
5.5 A teenage boy presents with a swelling at the angle of his jaw that is very
painful, limiting his ability to open his mouth and chew.
5.5.1 Name the most likely condition?
(1)
5.5.2 Mention two (2) means through which this disease can be transmitted. (2)
5.5.3 What is one of the main long-term complications of this condition
specifically among males and why?
(2)
Question 6 (35 marks)
6.1. You were invited as a health professional to visit a rural community whose main
source of income is small scale animal farming. They mainly rear goats, sheep,
cattle and pigs. The village has a large river and farmers often bring their herds
to drink from the river and graze on the green pastures around the riverbanks.
Being a rural setting, most homes use pit latrines or practice open defaecation.
The river is the main source of drinking water for the community, and young
boys in the village enjoy swimming in the river.
5
Epidemiology 2B (EPD612S)
1st Opportunity November 2023