Rats Can Play Sodoku on You

While searching for clues on how to quickly solve the now famous number puzzle called Sudoku, I stumbled (rather serendipitously) onto information about a certain disease which is termed almost as that number puzzle - Sodoku. And I thought the information is worth sharing here, especially to those living in areas infested by rats. So here goes.

Sodoku is a kind of bacterial disease that is communicable from animals to humans which often occur under hot-weather or warm-climate conditions. Specifically in Sodoku, the animals referred to are rats; hence, Sodoku is more commonly known as a form of rat-bite fever.

Being classified as one of those warm-climate ailments, Sodoku is prevalent in places that have hot-weather conditions than in those in temperate areas. We know, of course, that hot weather is enfeebling, and that warm temperature facilitates the growth of disease-causing microorganisms. We are aware, too, of the presence of insect and animal germ carriers in large numbers, and many of these breed the year round. Obviously, rats carry that certain bacterium - Spirillum minus (of the order Spirochaetales) - which causes this rat-bite fever. The bacterium, a tiny, spiral organism, is found in the tissue fluids and blood from the bite areas and adjacent lymph nodes.

Other than through rat bites or scratches, Sodoku may also be acquired through close contact with animals preying on such rodents as rats (primarily, of course), mice, squirrels, and even beavers. In some cases, the disease may be acquired from, or may occur in, hospitals. The wound caused directly by the bite of the disease-carrying rodent can, in turn, cause mild inflammatory reactions. Generally, the bite heals; a few days later, however, the spot becomes swollen, inflamed, hardened, and painful. Meanwhile, the adjacent lymph nodes become tender and swollen, too.

Symptoms such as chills and rising fever, muscle and joint pains, nausea, headache, a rapid pulse, and a feeling of weakness usually signal the onset of the critical phase of the rat-bite fever. Dark-red rashes appear on the victim's body and limbs. A recurrence of the symptoms at intervals is common. Victims who are promptly given the appropriate modern remedies, administered by a doctor, will most certainly recover in time. But there are also recorded cases of deaths from Sodoku which, apparently, were due to the victims' not receiving proper treatments on time.

There are two main reasons why victims of rat-bite fever need expert medical attention: First, this disease resembles malaria - a disease characterized by periodic paroxysms of chills and fever; it is, therefore, necessary to discover early what is wrong. And second, only doctors must give, administer, or order the only truly effective treatments for this disease.

Once a person suspects that he or she has contracted Sodoku, he/she should have a physician make an immediate diagnosis of the case; the physician can then give proper medications (examples, antibiotics that are suitable for the condition) if the condition proves to be rat-bite fever. As a preventive measure, do not delay in having rat bites cauterized. But the best measure of all you can take to prevent Sodoku is to have the rats in your area exterminated.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodoku