...A disease is a condition that impairs the proper function of the body or of one of its parts. Every living thing, both plants and animals, can succumb to disease. Hundreds of different diseases exist. Each has its own particular set of symptoms and signs, clues that enable a physician to diagnose the problem. A symptom is something a patient can detect, such as fever, bleeding, or pain. A sign is something a doctor can detect, such as a swollen blood vessel or an enlarged internal body organ. Every disease has a cause, although the accuses of some remain to be discovered. Every disease also displays a cycle of onset, or beginning, course, or time span of affection, and end, when it disappears or it partially disables or kills its victim. An epidemic diseases one that strikes many persons in a community. When it strikes the same region year after year it is an endemic disease. An acute disease has a quick onset and runs a short course. A chronic disease has a slow onset and runs a sometimes years-long course. The gradual onset and long course of rheumatic fever makes it a chronic ailment. Kinds of Disease Infectious, or communicable, diseases are those that can be passed between persons such as by means of airborne droplets from a cough or sneeze. Tiny organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and worms can produce infectious diseases. Whatever the causative agent, it services in the person it infects and is passed on to another. Sometimes, a disease-producing organism...
Words: 503 - Pages: 3
...Before treating a patient for any type of disease, a diagnosis must first be made to establish what exactly needs to be treated. A diagnosis is the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms. The incubation time of Legionnaires’ disease is anywhere between 2-6 days, which is the time that it takes for the symptoms to appear after exposure to the bacteria. The incubation period of Legionnaires’ disease is between 3-6 days. It has been stated that fewer than 5% of the patients’ exposed to Legionnaires’ disease during outbreaks will develop clinical symptoms (CITE). The symptoms for Legionnaires’ disease are very similar to any other type of pneumonia; however, “initial findings seemed to indicate...
Words: 281 - Pages: 2
...Discuss the View That Hiv/Aids Is a Disease of Poverty Social Problems Chupical Shollah Manuel HIV is a long term social problem in most underdeveloped countries. This takes us directly beyond the epidemiological aspects of the disease to the social and economic dimensions. Many social studies have revealed that HIV and AIDS is fast becoming a social cancer and it can be understood if one was to assess the social structure and the availability of resources in the society. The most affected persons are those who live in the lower strata of the social stratification due to inequalities that comes with social structure. This paper serves to explain that HIV and AIDS is a social problem of poverty and it also looks at other factors such as religion, promiscuity and child rights which also result in the spread of the disease. It is undisputed to say that poverty is implicated in the prevalence in most developing world. Because these countries are generally poor people are normally forced to engage in activities that end up putting them at the risk of HIV. United Nations (2004) revealed that in South Africa more than 6 million people where living with HIV. The paper also revealed that the majority number who were affected were blacks who are generally poor who have no proper housing facilities, mal-nutritional, lack of safe water. Further research has suggested that Botswana and Zimbabwe have high prevalence of the disease due to the poor conditions which prevails in these countries...
Words: 322 - Pages: 2
...things. Caused by an organism that can be transferred from one organism to another. Non-transmissible among people, may be a chronic disease or carried through genes. They include measles, cols, influenza, chicken pox, and hepatitis. They include genetic diseases e.g. hemophilia, down syndrome, and diseases related to lifestyle and or environment. A Pathogen is any organism any organism that can produce and carry a disease. Pathogens range from viruses so miniature that thousands may fit side by side in in one millimeter to several meters long. They are all infectious and can live on the outside of the body as fungus. Three common ways in which water is treated for human consumption are as follows: Filtration whereby water flows through a filter designed to remove particles in the water. The filters are made of layers of sand and gravel, and in some cases, crushed anthracite. Filtration collects the suspended impurities in water and enhances the effectiveness of disinfection. The filters are routinely cleaned by backwashing. Other ways include the boiling of water which ultimately leads to heat killing bacteria and most of the microbes present in tap water that haven’t already been killed by the process of filtration. Sterilizing tablets can also be used to diminish these microbes and other fluids that need it. There are a huge number of disease causing organisms known as pathogens that are microscopic and may enter the body through any availability of openings. The intake...
Words: 380 - Pages: 2
...Dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease): eradication without a drug or a vaccine, Gautam Biswas, Dieudonne P. Sankara, Junerlyn Agua-Agum and Alhousseine Maiga, June 2013. Introduction: Dracunculiasis is the first parasitic disease that has the potential to be eradicated without the need of drugs or vaccines. Since the parasite life cycle revolves around the host consuming the infected copepod in the water, the experimental designed was to focus on the introduction of water treatment educations into those tropical and subtropical areas. Design and Strategies: The eradication campaigns were also supported by many private and community partnership, and the strategy was to surveillance, provision of safe drinking water, vector control, health education and certification of eradication. In summary, every case should be monitored and recorded before, during and after the launch of the programs. Water sources should be well treated and maintained to control the only mode of transmission through copepods, and proper disposed of water education should be taught to the people. Lastly, the disease must be certified by WHO for every epidemic countries to mark the complete termination of Dracunculiasis. Result: The progress was recorded. In 1986, there were an estimated of 3.5 million cases of Dracunculiasis. After the launch of the studies, in 1989, a total of 883,640 cases were reported to WHO by 15 countries, and in 2004, those countries has been reduced to only 12 endemic countries...
Words: 644 - Pages: 3
...Communicable Diseases Communicable diseases spread from one person to another or from an animal to a person. The spread often happens via airborne viruses or bacteria, but also through blood or other bodily fluid. The terms infectious and contagious are also used to describe communicable disease. Examples: 1. HIV/AIDS AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The illness alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the disease progresses. HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person (semen and vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk). The virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivering the baby during childbirth, and through breast feeding. HIV can be transmitted in many ways, such as vaginal, oral sex, anal sex, blood transfusion, and contaminated hypodermic needles. Both the virus and the disease are often referred to together as HIV/AIDS. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. As a result, some will then develop AIDS. The development of numerous opportunistic infections in an AIDS patient can ultimately lead to death. 2. Measles Measles is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus. The virus lives in the mucus of the...
Words: 1630 - Pages: 7
...Questions: Diseases of poverty and the 10/90 Gap. 1. What is the 10/90 gap? This is where 10 per cent of global health research is devoted to conditions that account for 90 per cent of the global disease burden. 2. What are neglected diseases according to this paper? Neglected diseases are diseases such as Leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas’disease, leprosy, Guinea worm, onchocerciasis and schistosomiasis. 3. According to figure one how many people a year die from childhood disease and diarrheal diseases? Over 9,000 people 4. Can illnesses in third world countries be treated OR avoided? Refer to a specific example. Yes, illnesses can be treated and even prevented form occurring in the first place. The disease include, but are not limited to, tuberculosis, malaria and various childhood diseases. Tuberculosis can be treated/prevented by improving nutrition and can be treated by DOTS therapy. Malaria can aslo be treated or prevented by using insecticide, spraying homes with DDT and using mosquito nets and medicines. Childhood diseases are preventable by the child being vaccinated at a young age. 5. Give an example of a disease for which there is no treatment. Dengue Fever 6. Do non-communicable diseases not occur in low-income countries? No, these diseases have started to occur in low-income countries 7. Are there obese people in lower income countries? Give two specific pieces of evidence to support your answer. Yes. 50% of sub-saharan...
Words: 421 - Pages: 2
...Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease, is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. It was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Most often, AD is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer's can occur much earlier. In 2006, there were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide. Alzheimer's is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050. Although Alzheimer's disease develops differently for every individual, there are many common symptoms. Early symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be 'age-related' concerns, or manifestations of stress. In the early stages, the most common symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. When AD is suspected, the diagnosis is usually confirmed with tests that evaluate behaviour and thinking abilities, often followed by a brain scan if available. As the disease advances, symptoms can include confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, trouble with language, and long-term memory loss. As the sufferer declines they often withdraw from family and society. Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death. Since the disease is different for each individual, predicting how it will affect the person is difficult. AD develops for an unknown and variable amount of time before...
Words: 930 - Pages: 4
...Infectious Disease What is the stake of the American People and the Government by International Agencies to control Infectious Disease in Developing Countries? More people are at risk of infectious diseases than at any other time on history. Infectious diseases are worldwide problem requiring worldwide attention. Infectious diseases can weaken the strength of a nation's resources. In developing nations this poses even a greater threat. Diseases are threatening the economic stability of many developing nations. 50,000 people die everyday from infectious disease. Rift Valley Fever infects both livestock and humans. Rift Valley Fever is most commonly found in regions of eastern and southern Africa. It also exists in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa. The Bunyaviridae family includes the Rift Valley Fever disease. It is primarily spread from infected mosquitoes, who then infect animals. Generally they infect domestic animals, such as buffalo, cattle, sheep, camels and goats. Once the livestock are infected, other mosquitoes can spread the disease. It is also possible that the infection can be spread from other biting insects. The Rift Valley Fever outberak of 1997-1998 in eastern Africa killed both humans and livestock. It economically hurt trase in animals and the dairy indusrty.. the economy was crushed by trade imbargoes. Humans can get Rift Valley Fever in numerous ways. Humans can be infected from the mosquitoes or the bodily fluids of the infected animal...
Words: 1341 - Pages: 6
...Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular disease is known as a disease that affects the heart or blood vessel within the heart. Cardiovascular is one of the biggest causes in deaths all over the world. Cardiovascular can affect families with medical family history, smokers, obesity, age, gender and people with breast cancer. Men and women are exposed to this disease and there is treatment available for this disease. A cardiovascular symptom ranges from chest pain, discomfort, aching, burning, and squeezing. Other symptoms involve unusual feeling in the arms, jaws, back, neck, and throat. Other forms of cardiovascular episode are shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, faster heartbeat, weakness or dizziness, nausea, and sweating. These symptoms can be indications to having a cardiovascular episode within that person body. Management for cardiovascular disease is different treatment such as dieting, surgery, or medication to prevent an episode of having a cardiovascular attack. Many cardiovascular attacks can range from heart attacks, irregular heartbeats or even death. If you have a strong medical family history the best management for prevent cardiovascular is to have healthy dieting and annual health visits to monitor your health. Prevention can come in many ways than one such as visits to your doctor, exercising, and healthy eating. Prevent awareness is always offered in local...
Words: 333 - Pages: 2
...(Communicable disease)-NRS 427 1. The social determinants of health are economic and social conditions that influence the health of people and communities (WHO, 2008). People's health is affected by how much money, power and resources that they have, how much education a person obtains, what kind of work a person does, how a person develops early childhood, etc. These are factors that are related to health outcomes by social determinants of health. 2. The social determinants of health contribute to the development of illness. For example, when a person was born in economically poor family and malnourished, malnutrition cause many health and developmental problems including growth retardation, increased risk of infectious disease, premature death, delayed mental development, and poor school performance( Maurer & Smith, 2009). 3. A communicable disease chain include agent(pathogen), reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of re-entry, and susceptible host. A communicable disease are spread by a chain of events that is all interconnected. Pathogens are viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal. Methods of transmission include mucus, blood, breath, saliva and sexual contact. Contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs, counter tops and playground equipment, provide a medium for passing disease from one human to another(Anderson, 2011) 4. All health caregivers including nurses have a responsibility to break the chain in any steps so that infections may not occur...
Words: 391 - Pages: 2
...Disease in the News Paper By: University of Phoenix 11/08/2010 HCS/330 The Author on this peer reviewed journal is a committee on infectious diseases. They have one chairperson and twelve committee members. This committee monitors all infectious diseases. They also report on how to prevent and treat such diseases and recommended vaccinations. All committee members are M.D’s with one D.O. This peer reviewed journal is from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This journal is about influenza virus. Focal points on this topic will be age ranges that are at risk, treatments plans, national or global perspective, and scientific evidence to support claims (if any). Influenza is a contagious viral infection. Influenza can inflame the respiratory system. The virus attacks the cells of the respiratory tract and begins to multiply to spread infection throughout the body. Symptoms of influenza are vomiting, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, sore throat, fatigue, fever, chills, body aches, and decrease in urination. Influenza can be dated back to as late as 1918 and has caused many deaths over the years. Influenza is an air born virus which means anyone can catch it just by simply breathing it in. Influenza can be transferred by coughing, sneezing, or direct contact. Incubation time for influenza is 1 to 7 days. The infection can last for a few days for a healthy person. Most cases of influenza are not serious. Most people recuperate after a few days of rest...
Words: 696 - Pages: 3
...Webster’s dictionary defines a disease as “a condition of the living animal or plant body or of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning and is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms; a harmful development.” Add that with the definition of infectious disease from our AS Level and A Level Biology book - “...transmissible, or communicable diseases; diseases caused by pathogens that can spread from infected people to uninfected people” - and it’s no wonder why scientist and citizens alike are in a frenzy to understand what these diseases are like, how they are spread, what causes them, and most importantly, how to stop them. In the following paragraphs my job is to explain all of this to the best of my knowledge and ability. First up, Cholera. Cholera is the infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea (or “rice water” as our Cambridge book likes to call it) and possible vomiting. It is a water-borne disease and occurs where people do not have access to proper sanitation such as a clean water supply or uncontaminated food (third world countries such as Bangladesh, where the first strain of this disease was found). Transmission occurs, primarily, by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces of an infected person or the bacterium Vibrio cholerae has somehow been exposed to unclean water or food washed in said water. In the developed world (first world countries), seafood is the usual cause though...
Words: 344 - Pages: 2
...Communicable Diseases - Dermatophytes HCS 457 February 11, 2013 University of Phoenix Communicable Diseases - Dermatophytes Communicable diseases remain a frequent cause of illness in human population due to many reasons. Communicable diseases are diseases that can be passed from one person to another just by everyday communication. Communicable diseases are the easiest to spread amongst our population. Dermatophytes are a type of communicable disease that could be spread to anyone. Dematophytes are fungi that cause skin, hair, and nail infections and are often known as ringworms. One example of a very common dermatophyte infection is athlete's foot, which is also called tinea pedis. Another common dermatophyte infection affecting the groin area is jock itch, also known as tinea cruris. There are many different species of dermatophytes that can cause infection in humans. Two of the most common types are Trichophyton tonsurans, and Trichophyton rubrum and these are usually transmitted from person to person. Another common dermatophyte is Microsporum canis, and that is transmitted from animals such as cats and dogs to humans. Dermatophytes like to live on moist areas of the skin, like the places where there are skinfolds. They can also live on household items, including clothes, towels, and bed sheets and so on. Symptoms and Prevention Dermatophyte infections are usually spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal. Clothing, bedding and...
Words: 810 - Pages: 4
...I have read None of These Diseases in its entirety for this semester for BY 206. None of These Diseases is a book that explains how the Bible lay out certain guidelines that could help mankind maintain and better healthcare. Dr. McMillen and Dr. Stern reveal to people the secrets of health through the Bible. The book is divided into five different sections explaining how diseases affect different areas of life. Diseases affect source, physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual wholeness. The source of wholeness is the understanding of where a disease came from and how it was spread. Egyptians and doctors used to believe that a wound should rot a little in order to heal. This was the wrong belief. In Exodus the Lord explains that if the people of Israel would not follow the ways of the Egyptians the people would be healed. The Egyptians used to apply manure and worm’s blood to wounds to make it pus. The Egyptians believed in the wrong source of healing. The errors of mankind are clearly shown in history. It was not only in ancient times but also in recent centuries. In May 1847 Vienna, Austria was the leading medical center of the world. One out of six pregnant women die of labor fever on the delivery table. No one knew the mode of transmission of this disease except a doctor by the name of Ignaz Semmelweis. In the 1800s, doctors and nurses did not wash their hands when transferring from the morgue to the delivery room. After submerging their hands in pus and blood during...
Words: 1029 - Pages: 5
