Case Study 1: The “Superbug” Crisis
Scenario: Ravi has a sore throat. He takes an antibiotic left over from his sister’s previous illness without visiting a doctor. He feels better after 2 days and stops taking the medicine. Two weeks later, he gets sick again, but this time the medicine doesn’t work.
Analysis:
- Mistake 1 (Self-medication): Sore throats are often viral. Taking antibiotics for a virus is useless.
- Mistake 2 (Incomplete Course): Even if it was bacterial, stopping early kills only the weak bacteria.
- Result (Resistance): The stronger bacteria survived, multiplied, and are now resistant to that antibiotic.
Lesson: Always consult a doctor and finish the full course of antibiotics.
Case Study 2: The Clean Village
Scenario: Village A has open drains and garbage piles. Village B has covered drains and regular garbage collection. During the monsoon, Village A sees a spike in Malaria and Diarrhea cases. Village B remains mostly healthy.
Connection:
- Malaria: Stagnant water in open drains breeds mosquitoes (Vectors).
- Diarrhea: Garbage and sewage contaminate water sources with pathogens.
- Conclusion: Sanitation is a direct preventive measure for communicable diseases.