Mad Cow Disease Symptoms in Humans

Popularly known as mad cow disease for infected cattle and the other variant known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD for infected humans, mad cow is a disease which effects the brain of cattle and humans and is incurable and fatal. Unnatural proteins known as prions are found in brain tissue of infected cattle. They damage the brain and create small sponge holes which causes impairment within the cattle brain. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is the medical name for mad cow. Mad cow disease symptoms need to be sorted out because there are many types of this disease, that are not connected to humans at all. People who have eaten the meat of cattle infected by mad cow disease are at a major risk of getting this disease. Mad cow disease or Creutzfeldt-Jakob is a rare disease, people who are at risk are the ones who have had repeated consumptions of infected beef.

Mad Cow Disease Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms of mad cow disease, as it continues to rise very swiftly in some parts of the world. Mad cow symptoms in humans and animals do not become visible as soon as they are infected by the virus. It takes approximately 7 to 8 years for a human or an animal to show the symptoms.

Mad Cow Disease in Humans

• Early symptoms in humans are often psychiatric in nature. Humans suffering from this disease suffer serious changes in moods and also development of anxiety and depression. Have a look at anxiety symptoms.
• Mad cow disease symptoms may cause dementia at later stages. It also leads to memory loss, concentration failure and damaged cognitive function.
• Some people suffer from insomnia which may lead to mental depression and anxiety.
• Muscle coordination drops and victims also suffer from blurry vision.
• Other parts also fail to work including the heart. Brain damage happens to such a large extent that eventually it becomes weak which is likely to end in coma.
• The respiratory system stops responding, leading to death which happens from pneumonia or lung and bronchial infections.
• A gradual march of these devastating symptoms takes up to seven years and by then the person loses everything.

Diagnosis and Prevention

The most regretful part of this disease is that there is no vaccination or medication available to cure this disease. As mad cow disease is not common, a vaccination has not yet been developed. Certain medications are advised by doctors that may help control symptoms of this disease.

As there is no cure of this devastating disease, it's better if you try preventive measures. If you are fond of cattle meat, shift to other meat products like fish or chicken or you can even choose a vegetarian diet. If you are traveling to countries such as UK, Europe, Portugal and Spain where mad cow disease has been detected, don't consume beef. Also avoid having blood transfusion in foreign countries.

I hope this article has given you enough information mad cow disease symptoms in humans. It is incurable and dangerous so people living in the areas affected by mad cow disease should avoid the consumption of beef.