Archive for category: Disease

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Threefold Strategy to Fight Pneumonia in India


Pneumonia in India accounts for 20 percent of the deaths worldwide caused by pneumonia. Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection which affects the lungs. It causes difficulty in breathing and limits oxygen intake. It can be caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses and is a contagious disease.

Pneumonia symptoms include a cough, difficulty in breathing, fast breathing or wheezing. Infants may experience an inability to feed or drink, unconsciousness or convulsions, or worse. Pneumonia is the largest infectious cause of death among children in the world.

India has the highest number of deaths by pneumonia and diarrhea among children. Pneumonia in India in children under five is caused by malnutrition, low birth weight, non-exclusive breastfeeding, lack of measles immunization, indoor air pollution and overcrowding.

Pneumonia in India can be fatal to all, but is especially dangerous to young children. According to the  World Health Organization (WHO), one in three deaths in India is caused by pneumonia. Pneumonia in India is the leading cause of infant deaths. Every year almost 200,000 children under five die of pneumonia in India. On a global level, pneumonia kills around 900,000 children in the world every year.

In 2016, India managed to achieve improvement of 7 percentage points in the GAPPD score. The GAPPD score measures the use of interventions that protect, treat and prevent phenomena and diarrhea. India’s 2016 score was 41 percent, a major improvement achieved by improving exclusive breastfeeding rates and the Hib vaccine, but well short of its target score of 86 percent.

A new vaccine to protect children was introduced in India this year as part of the Universal Immunization Program. Called the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), this new vaccine will be available to children who need it, especially the underprivileged. Millions of children will receive the vaccine for free. The vaccine protects children from pneumococcal diseases like pneumonia and meningitis.

The aim of this vaccine is to reduce the death of children from pneumococcal pneumonia. “No child should die from the vaccine-preventable disease,” said the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in India.

To fight pneumonia, a threefold strategy needs to be incorporated:

  1. Protection: Exclusive breastfeeding for six months, vitamin A and zinc supplementation and adequate nutrition
  2. Prevention via vaccination: Pneumococcus, HIV Protection, promotion of washing and hygiene, reduction of indoor air pollution
  3. Treatment: improving care-seeking behavior, community case management and health facility case management

India has taken significant initiatives to fight against this disease. Through implementing this threefold strategy, overcoming pneumonia in India is hopeful.

– Aishwarya Bansal

Photo: Flickr

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The Current Major Diseases in Fiji


Like many developing countries, Fiji falls short on providing basic healthcare to all citizens. Private healthcare is available, but many citizens must use the failing public system, which is superior in urban regions compared to those in rural areas. As a result, more rural residents are faced with prevalent illnesses. Based on a 2012 report by the World Health Organization, the following are the major diseases in Fiji:

  • Ischemic heart disease caused the greatest number of deaths in 2012. It killed 1,300 people and accounted for 21.8 percent of Fijian deaths.
  • Diabetes mellitus was the second leading cause of death, accounting for 16 percent of deaths nationwide and killing a total of 900 Fijians.
  • Stroke was third, killing 500 people, 8.3 percent of deaths.
  • Other killer diseases that are less common include lower respiratory infections like pneumonia and bronchitis, kidney diseases and various cancers.

Although noncommunicable diseases cause the majority of deaths, likely due to their difficulty in treating, Fiji is still home to a number of communicable diseases. Together, these diseases accounted for approximately 18 percent of Fijian deaths in 2008. They include the following:

  • The Zika virus, commonly contracted through mosquito bites, is spreading throughout Fiji, with more and more cases reported. There is no current vaccine.
  • Dengue fever, also contracted through mosquito bites, has recently been declared an outbreak within Fiji. As with Zika, dengue fever does not have a current vaccine.
  • Tuberculosis is widely prevalent, especially to those living in rural areas where pollution is common and medical resources are limited.
  • Other common diseases include Hepatitis A and typhoid.

Through utilizing the aid provided by other nations, Fiji would benefit from taking radical measures to improve public healthcare. In doing so, these major diseases in Fiji could be limited or potentially eradicated with time, advancing the quality of life for the Fijian people.

– Gigi DeLorenzo

Photo: Flickr

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The Stigma Surrounding HIV/AIDS and Major Diseases in Hungary


Hungary, which is located in Central Europe between Romania and Austria, has seen promising trends in the health and wellbeing of its people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the estimated life expectancy in Hungary was 76 years of age as of 2014. At the turn of the 21st century, it was just over 70 years. In addition, the European Commission (EC) and WHO reported other health improvements, including a decrease in infant mortality, suicide and self-harm. Incidences of AIDS, cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as these diseases’ death rates, also showed a decline. However, when compared to 10 other European countries, the data showed higher death rates for both HIV and AIDS in Hungary.

The government is taking an active role in the prevention and treatment of these three major diseases in Hungary, according to the WHO. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS is still very common. Another issue raised by the EC is that of confidential STD testing. Up until 1996, an individual wanting to be tested for HIV was required to reveal their identity, along with the names of their previous sexual partners, who were then tested for the disease. In 1997, the government reformed procedures, creating a two-step process that is still used today. A first test does not require people to reveal their identities, but if a second, confirmational test is necessary, that information must be disclosed. As the EC points out, people likely avoid testing since there is no way to have it done anonymously.

After the government dismantled the National AIDS Committee in 2000, people with HIV/AIDS could only seek help from one hospital in Budapest: Saint Lazlo Hospital. The EC notes that patients receive good care, but with just one venue for treatment, HIV/AIDS cannot be treated nationwide. In addition, many doctors remain unknowledgeable about the major diseases in Hungary, and dentists often refuse to treat patients with HIV/AIDS.

There is good news. According to the EC, the Hungarian government is working to end discrimination against infected individuals. They are also working to create educational programs that work towards the prevention and development of new and improved treatment options, such as importing medication that has not been previously accessible.

– Helen Barker

Photo: Flickr

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Noncommunicable Diseases: The Impending Global Health Crisis


The WHO’s “Ten years in public health 2007-2017” report chronicles the “evolution of global public health” over the past decade. The report emphasizes the escalation of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCD) as the largest threat to global health.

Chronic NCDs are categorized as diseases that progress slowly. The four main NCDs are cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, all of which share common risk factors abundant in non-health sectors. NCDs have only recently been recognized as a main component in the impending global health crisis. These chronic diseases share four risk factors: tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, unhealthy diet and minimal physical activity.

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 70 percent of global deaths were due to NCDs (39.5 million out of 56.4 million). Out of the 39.5 million NCD fatalities, 30.7 million occurred in low and middle-income countries.

Health systems traditionally rely on curing individual disease as they arise. However, current health systems are not sustainable due to insufficient disease management and care. Access to disease treatment is becoming unavailable for millions of individuals, including affluent people in wealthy countries.

A study released by the World Economic Forum states that diabetes cost the global economy nearly $500 billion in 2010 and this is projected to increase to $745 billion by 2030. Newly approved cancer treatments average $120,000 per person, causing medical care to be “unaffordable for even the richest countries in the world.”

These high costs have four severe implications:

  1. They undermine the traditionally ethical ideal that healthcare should be available to everyone;
  2. The need for social protection becomes obvious when a person has to spend much as 60 percent of their income to get diabetes medication;
  3. Prevention becomes the foundation of global health;
  4. High costs clarify that no economy can outlast the NCD global crisis by investing solely in treatment services.

The WHO report ‘Ten years in public health 2007-2017’ estimates that 40 million people die each year from NDCs, “accounting for 70 percent of all deaths worldwide.” According to Margaret Chan, Director-General at WHO, chronic noncommunicable diseases have surpassed infectious disease as the leading cause of death worldwide.

The WHO’s newly established ‘Health Emergencies Programme’, enables faster response to global pandemics and emergencies. The programme collaborates with various countries and partners to “prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from all hazards that create health emergencies, including disasters, disease outbreaks and conflicts.” It is also focused on community engagement and increasing disease prevention in public health services.

Chan urges the world to focus on implementing universal health care to reduce noncommunicable diseases. It is the ultimate expression of equality, ensuring no one is left behind.

– Madison O’Connell

Photo: Flickr

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4 Ways Poverty Impacts the Hepatitis Epidemic


Hepatitis has become a global epidemic. Such viral infections can cause cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. Nine percent of the global population, or 550 million people, are infected and one million die from the disease every year. Most of these deaths are in lower-income countries. Hepatitis infections have definitive links with poverty beyond death rates; poverty is an identified risk factor for the disease. Here are four ways poverty impacts the hepatitis epidemic:

  1. Poverty Impedes Diagnosis
    Many people are unaware they have hepatitis. Indeed, 90 percent of people with hepatitis C are not diagnosed. Undiagnosed people may not take precautions in preventing transmission.Many diagnostic tests are expensive, putting them out of reach for lower-income countries. For example, the liver biopsy test is not only expensive, but it requires trained histopathologists to analyze the tissue sample. In Africa, medical professionals who are experts in liver diseases are generally not common. This includes those who would analyze the histology sample.Furthermore, lower-income countries don’t typically have high-quality laboratories that can test for hepatitis. The centers that do exist are usually found in urban areas, neglecting those in rural locations.
  2. Poverty Reduces Access to Treatment
    Lower-income countries have limited access to hepatitis treatment. Forty-one percent of the population lives in places without public hepatitis funding. One treatment, known as PEG-INF/RBV, can cost EUR 25,000 for full course therapy in Europe. This figure does not consider any of the follow-up care or further tests.There are also tests which guide the treatment of hepatitis. They identify the strain and how much virus is in a person. They’re expensive and as such not always routine.
  3. Patents Make Drugs More Expensive Than They Need to Be
    Drugs are protected as intellectual property by patents. These protection laws prevent other companies from creating comparable, generic drugs at lower prices for twenty years after invention. The intention is to encourage research and development by drug companies. In reality, when only one company makes a drug the company has free range with pricing and often sets a high price tag. These patents make some hepatitis drugs too expensive for patients in lower-income countries.
  4. Reuse of Syringes is Common in Lower-Income Countries
    Syringes can be contaminated with hepatitis. When they are reused without sterilization, they can pass along the infection. One reason that dirty syringes are reused is because of poorly trained healthcare workers. Also, lack of funding forces medical professionals to reuse syringes. If this practice continues, so will the epidemic.The good news is that there are treatments and cures for hepatitis. There is a complete cure for the hepatitis C strain and preventative vaccines for hepatitis A, B and E. The World Health Organization (WHO) is optimistic in defeating the hepatitis epidemic. They have prioritized its eradication and are creating guidelines to help countries with this process.

Previously, the WHO prioritized fighting a global epidemic during the HIV outbreak. HIV therapy once cost $10,000 per patient, per year. That is now down to $100. Today 10 million people receive treatment, in contrast to the mere 20,000 who were once treated in developing nations.

Hopefully, with focus and funding, the future of hepatitis can follow the pattern set by the HIV outbreak, and poverty’s impact can be eliminated.

– Mary Katherine Crowley

Photo: Flickr

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Lifestyle Contributes to Top Diseases in Georgia


Located in the sub-Caucasus region, Georgia is home to about four million people. Just like many countries in its region, certain diseases are prominent in Georgia. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works close with the Georgian government in order to tackle the top diseases in Georgia. Alongside Georgia’s National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), the CDC focuses on detecting and responding to major disease outbreaks in Georgia, such as measles and rubella. However, the fatal diseases are the ones that are less likely to be detected in day-to-day life. Here is a list of top diseases in Georgia.

Top Diseases in Georgia

  1. Ischemic Heart Disease: Making for 36 percent of deaths, ischemic heart disease is by far the most dangerous of the top diseases in Georgia. It refers to restricted blood flow due to narrowed heart arteries. This results in less blood and oxygen going to the heart muscle. Symptoms include heart attacks, which are often fatal.Roughly 10,000 people per year die from ischemic heart disease in Georgia. For the highest annual mortality rates, Georgia is placed in the top 15 for ischemic heart disease. Experts say that ischaemic heart disease is caused by risk factors such as smoking, poor cholesterol levels and diabetes. There are also genetic and stress factors to the disease. In order to improve mortality rates, Georgians need to watch their eating and smoking habits.
  2. HIV/AIDS: Some top diseases in Georgia are exacerbated by the lack of medical treatment and diagnoses. In 2015, there were roughly 10,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Georgia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AIDS is prominent in Georgia due to the lack of diagnoses. If a person goes undiagnosed, they put others in danger of the disease. It is estimated that 48 percent of people living with HIV in Georgia are undiagnosed. The WHO is working closely with the government of Georgia in order to stabilize this epidemic. This includes getting HIV/AIDS patients proper medical treatments and educating Georgian citizens on the disease.
  3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Also known as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the top diseases in Georgia, taking the lives of thousands every year. It is a progressive disease, meaning it worsens over time. Symptoms include coughing and breathing problems, which can eventually become fatal if untreated.Smoking is one of the major factors of COPD, with up to 75 percent of people who have the disease either being a smoker or ex-smoker. In Georgia, almost half of the male population regularly smokes, which likely contributes to the high mortality rate of COPD.

Many of these top diseases in Georgia can often be treated through preventable care or healthier lifestyles.

– Morgan Leahy

Photo: Flickr

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Chronic Illness: Top Diseases in Mongolia


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2002, chronic diseases caused 13,000 out of 19,000 deaths in Mongolia. Of these, 30 percent were caused by cardiovascular disease. Various types of cancers caused another 21 percent of the deaths.

In 2015, 75 percent of men and 79 percent of women were overweight. Based on data presented by the WHO, focusing on implementing healthier diets and increasing physical activity could prevent 40 percent of occurrences of cancer and at least 80 percent of premature heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation spent five years encouraging healthier lifestyles in Mongolia and concentrated on early diagnosis and treatment plans of the top diseases in Mongolia, including heart disease and strokes. These two diseases alone cause 30 percent of the deaths in Mongolia, despite easy prevention. This project, which ended in 2013, funded schools and other organizations that encouraged healthy practices in the community and worked closely with the Mongolian government to increase funding for public health programs.

The Regional Office for the Western Pacific portion of the WHO looked at life expectancy rates in Mongolia and found that between 2010 and 2030 both women and men can expect a significant increase in life expectancy. Men are estimated to live 16.2 years longer and women 19.6 years. It is also estimated that the population of individuals over the age of 60 will outgrow the population of people 14 and under. They warn that this increase in the older population of the country will also lead to an increase in the occurrences of cardiovascular diseases since the elderly are more susceptible to these types of diseases and issues.

Furthering research and instituting prevention and interventions will be able to prevent this major increase in cardiovascular and other diseases of this nature.

Similarly, the Millennium Challenge Corporation believes that through programs that work to improve the health of Mongolians, the country is securing a better future and aims to target the youth of the nation, teaching them a healthy lifestyle before they become more susceptible to these top diseases in Mongolia.

– Helen Barker

Photo: Flickr

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Top Diseases in Argentina


Although Argentina meets a fairly high standard of health, with a life expectancy of about 77 years, it is prone to a number of diseases partially due to environmental conditions, as well as social activities. Here are some of the top diseases in Argentina that are non-communicable.

Top Non-Communicable Diseases in Argentina

  1. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Argentina, accounting for approximately 34 percent of deaths. Risk factors include high blood pressure, obesity and alcohol and tobacco abuse.
  2. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Argentina, constituting 21 percent of deaths. Lung cancer is particularly common, likely due to high rates of tobacco use, as well as air pollution.
  3. Respiratory diseases are also a common cause of mortality, making up about seven percent of deaths. Again, risk factors include tobacco use and air pollution.
  4. Other top non-communicable diseases include chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Communicable diseases are also common in Argentina although they only account for 11 percent of deaths nationwide. Here are some of the top communicable diseases in Argentina.

Top Communicable Diseases in Argentina

  1. The Zika virus is most commonly transferred through infected mosquitoes, although other methods include sexual intercourse and blood transfusions. Pregnant women should be especially cautious, as the virus can be transferred to fetuses.
  2. Hepatitis A and Typhoid can be contracted through contaminated food or water, but are easily preventable through vaccines.
  3. Hepatitis B is also common, spread through sexual intercourse or medical procedures involving either blood or needles. This disease can also be prevented through a vaccination.
  4. Other top communicable diseases include yellow fever and rabies.

Fortunately, Argentina has one of the strongest public healthcare systems in Latin America with plenty of resources and research designed to counter these diseases. Through sustained medical attention, these top diseases in Argentina, both non-communicable and communicable, could be eradicated in the future.

– Gigi DeLorenzo

Photo: Flickr

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What Are the Top Diseases in Bolivia?


Bolivia is the poorest nation in South America, and has a population of more than 10 million people. Nations that struggle with poverty often struggle to fight disease as well. Some of the top diseases in Bolivia are spread by insects, cannot be prevented by vaccination and are frequently life-threatening.

Vector-borne diseases (diseases spread by insect bite) such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and Chagas disease are common in Bolivia. Travelers to the country are warned about malaria and dengue fever. Malaria is spread by mosquitoes and can be life-threatening. There isn’t a vaccination against it, making it even more dangerous. Dengue fever is a viral disease that is also spread by mosquito bite. While not as serious as malaria, dengue fever also has no vaccination.

Only found in certain areas, yellow fever is also a huge concern in Bolivia. Every traveler to the country has to show certified proof of vaccination against the disease upon entrance. Yellow fever is another disease spread by mosquito bite, and it usually lasts between three and six days. For 60 percent of those who fall ill with yellow fever, the disease will be fatal. There is no treatment.

Chagas disease, which exists mainly in Latin America, is life-threatening and said to kill even more people than malaria does. Bolivia is home to the fourth largest number of people living with Chagas disease, with an estimated more than 607,000 people infected in 2015. It is the number one country when it comes to the prevalence of the disease, with the most infections per inhabitants.

Because of the prevalence of these diseases in Bolivia, attempts to help prevent HIV/AIDS sometimes come as an afterthought. In 2015 an estimated 18,000 adults in Bolivia were living with HIV/AIDS. Poorer nations such as Bolivia need assistance in order to combat the diseases that affect people’s livelihoods.

– Shannon Elder

Photo: Flickr

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Top Diseases in Libya


Libya, a country in North Africa, is home to more than six million people. The population employs a variety of careers and activities, such as farming and exporting petroleum. Though the country enjoys a relatively healthy lifestyle, the top diseases in Libya bring much strife to the population.

Communicable Diseases

Communicable diseases like influenza, hepatitis and dysentery contribute to a large portion of the mortality rates in Libya, especially in the rural areas where people do not have access to clean water and sanitation. Also, the closure of primary healthcare centers has only furthered the effect of these diseases on the population.

Another one of the top diseases in Libya is malaria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria is transmitted to humans when they are bitten by female mosquitoes. Parasites then multiply in the liver and attack red blood cells, causing damage to vital organs.

Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases also play a big part when it comes to the top diseases in Libya, and the closure of health centers has not helped slow the effect of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the country.

According to the WHO, the closure of these health centers is mainly war-related, caused by the shortage of funds and damage done by fighting. Those who try to treat their ailments often turn to “overburdened hospitals,” and the treatments can be ineffective.

Interestingly, communicable diseases were not on the list of top diseases in Libya until conflict began in the country. This was because most of the country had good water and sanitation systems. Furthermore, nonprofit organizations and health centers had a large percentage of the population covered in terms of vaccination.

The Libyan civil war began in 2014, and the lack of a control system caused the downfall of the country’s health system. For the most part, Libya had many of its biggest diseases under control with the help of vaccinations, health programs and volunteers from a nonprofit organization providing information on proper sanitary methods. Since the Libyan Civil War, however, many of these supporters have lost their hold in the region, and the population has paid the price.

In order to decrease the prevalence of the top diseases in Libya, the country has to pay more attention to programs that can benefit its citizens. The shortage of staff and supplies may put the health system in the country at further risk if nothing is done.

Informational programs about vaccination, proper sanitary methods and staying safe during the conflict is necessary for those who are currently suffering. Also, refilling the stocks of essential medical supplies will prove to be a big help to the country. Once the above goals are met, the country will be better situated to get back on track in terms of health.

– Jacqueline Artz

Photo: Flickr