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A Dangerous Place

Many sicknesses plagued weary travelers along the emigrant trails.

Dysentery
NOTE: Pioneers often used castor oil to treat dysentery along with similar ailments. [2] Castor oil is a laxative, which would explain why it was a common remedy along the trail. [5] 

Causative Agent: Entamoeba histolytica (Parasite)

Transmission Method: Feces contaminated food/drink

Symptoms: bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, belly pain, swollen liver

Treatment: Symptomatic ONLY- rehydration (lots of water); sickness usually passes

Prevention: Don't share personal items, wash hands/good general hygiene, cook foods you cannot peel

Further Reading: www.nhs.uk

Food Poisoning
NOTE: according to nps.gov, this was more common in travelers that were single men. [2]

Causative Agent: Various


Transmission Method: Ingesting food/drink that hosts an organism or has come in contact with the
feces of the infected

Symptoms: Upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever

Treatment: Symptomatic ONLY-- rest

Prevention: Wash hands frequently and wash food, carefully store and handle raw meat

Further Reading: www.cdc.gov

Influenza
NOTE: Also called "the grippe" at the time. [8]

Causative Agents: Alphainfluenzavirus, Betainfluenzavirus, Gammainfluenzavirus, and Deltainfluenzavirus (Viruses)

Transmission Method: Aerosols, fomites, and direct contact

Symptoms: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches

Treatment: symptomatic PRIMARY

Prevention: Annual vaccine (not available to pioneers)

Further Reading: www.cdc.gov

Mountain Fever

(RMSF)
NOTE: This is similar to typhoid fever and scarlet fever. Quinine water was used to treat Mountain Fever. [2] Quinine is a controversial drug found today in tonic water. [6]

Causative Agent: Rickettsia
rickettsii
(Bacteria)

Transmission Method: Tick bite

Symptoms: Fever, headache, rash, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, muscle pain, lack of appetite

Treatment:Doxycycline

Prevention: Insect repellant, check for ticks in clothing

Further Reading: www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Measles

Causative Agent: Measles Virus

Transmission Method: Aerosols

Symptoms: Fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, white spots in the mouth, rash (small raised bumps)

Treatment: Symptomatic ONLY

Prevention: Vaccine (not available to pioneers)

Further Reading: www.cdc.gov

Mumps

Causative Agent: Rubulavirus (Virus)

Transmission Method: Aerosols and direct contact with saliva

Symptoms*: Discomfort in salivary glands (may swell),
difficulty chewing, fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite

*inflammation of the spinal cord, brain, testicles, breast tissue, parotid glands, ovaries, or pancreas may occur

Treatment: Symptomatic ONLY

Prevention: Vaccine (not available to pioneers), good general hygiene practices

Further Reading: www.nfid.org

Pneumonia
NOTE: Quinine water was used to treat Pneumonia. [2] See Mountain Fever for details on Quinine water.

Causative Agent: various but includes Streptococcus pneumoniae (Bacteria)
 
Transmission Method: Infection; aerosols

Symptoms: Coughing (may have discolored or bloody mucus), fever, sweating, shaking chills, shortness of breath, shallow breathing, chest pain, loss of appetite, low energy, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion

Treatment: Antibiotics if bacterial, Symptomatic PRIMARY-- rest, drink lots of fluids (hot)

Prevention: Vaccine (not available to pioneers), general hygiene (washing hands), no smoking

Further Reading: www.lung.org

Scurvy
NOTE: Pioneers used citric acid to prevent/treat Scurvy. [2]

Causative Agent: Insufficient Vitamin C

Symptoms: loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, irritability, anemia, bone pain, small red spots on the skin, gum disease, loss of teeth, shortness of breath, mood changes/depression, jaundice, fever, convulsions, hemorrhaging

Treatment: Oral vitamin C supplements

Prevention: Healthy dieting, sufficient vitamin C

Further Reading: www.medicalnewstoday.com

Smallpox

Causative Agent: Variola Major (Virus)

Transmission Method: Direct contact and fomites

Symptoms: Fever, headaches, malaise, rash, (rash forms pustules on the skin which scab over), dehydration

Treatment: symptomatic ONLY

Prevention: Vaccine (not available to pioneers)

Further Reading: www.who.int

Tuberculosis

Causative Agent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Bacteria)

Transmission Method: Aerosols

Symptoms: Chest pain, severe coughing, coughing blood, weakness, weight loss, fevers, chills, and occasional formation of tubercles.

Treatment: Drug treatment

Prevention: Vaccine (not available to pioneers)

Further Reading: medlineplus.gov

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* Symptoms are listed in order of appearance

[Diseases other than these listed affected the westward travelers, including malaria.]

** To read about Cholera, click here.


CJ 2022 | References

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