Mad cow disease in humans, known scientifically as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, can be passed on to humans when eating meat from contaminated animals, for example.
This disease has no cure because it is caused by prions, which are abnormal proteins that settle in the brain and lead to the gradual development of definitive lesions, causing symptoms common to dementia that include difficulty thinking or talking, for example.
Although the disease almost always arises after ingestion of contaminated meat, it can also be transmitted by direct contact with contaminated human tissues, as in the cases of:
- Contaminated corneal transplantation;
- Inadequate implantation of brain electrodes;
- Injections of contaminated growth hormones.
However, these situations are extremely rare because modern techniques greatly reduce the risk of using contaminated tissues or materials, not only due to mad cow disease, but also to other serious diseases such as AIDS or tetanus.
There are also records of people who became infected with this disease after receiving a blood transfusion in the 1980s and that is why all people who have ever received blood in their lives can not donate blood because they may have been contaminated, even though they have never manifested symptoms.
Main symptoms and how to identify
Symptoms of mad cow disease in humans include:
- Difficulty speaking;
- Loss of ability to think;
- Loss of ability to make coordinated movements;
- Difficulty walking;
- Constant tremors.
These symptoms usually appear 6 to 12 years after the contamination and are very often confused with a dementia. There are no specific tests that can identify the mad cow and the diagnosis is made based on the symptoms presented, especially when there are more suspected cases in the same region.
Possible Complications
Mad cow disease in humans has no cure and leads to death, but its evolution is gradual and, therefore, complications arise slowly. With the development of the disease, the symptoms are getting worse and lead to a progressive loss of the capacities of the person, who is bedridden, becoming dependent to eat or perform hygiene care.
Although these complications can not be avoided because there is no treatment, it is recommended that the patient be accompanied by a psychiatrist, as there are medicines that can help slow the progression of the disease.
