DISEASES affecting human

DISEASES affecting human

  June 21, 2021    Chinonso Peter Okoro

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 DISEASES 

Disease can be seen as any harmful deviation from the normal structural or functional state of an organism, generally associated with certain signs and symptoms and differing in nature from physical injury. 

A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any immediate external injury (White, 2014)

 disease may be caused by external factors such as pathogens or by internal dysfunctions. For example, internal dysfunctions of the immune system can produce a variety of different diseases, including various forms of immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity, allergies and autoimmune disorders. According to WHO, there four major types of diseases which are : infectious diseases deficiency diseases hereditary diseases (including both genetic diseases and non-genetic hereditary diseases), physiological diseases. Diseases can also be classified in other ways, such as communicable versus non-communicable diseases. Examples of Diseases:

Malaria 

Influenza Alzheimer's disease 

 Ebola Heart disease 

 COVID -19

 Sexually transmitted diseases

 Cancer 

Eye problem

 Cerebrovascular disease

Malaria : Is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors. Malaria is preventable and curable. 

In 2019, there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria worldwide. And the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 409 000 in 2019.

 Children aged under 5 years are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2019, they accounted for 67% (274 000) of all malaria deaths worldwide. 

Malaria causes so much illness and death, the disease is a great drain on many national economies. Since many countries with malaria are already among the poorer nations, the disease maintains a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. 

 Kinds of malaria parasite:  Five species of Plasmodium (single-celled parasites) can infect humans and cause illness: 

1. Plasmodium falciparum (or P. falciparum)

 

2. Plasmodium malariae (or P. malariae) 

3. Plasmodium vivax (or P. vivax) 

4. Plasmodium ovale (or P. ovale) 

5. Plasmodium knowlesi (or P. knowlesi) 

 THE FIVE SPECIES OF MALARIA CAUSING ORGANISM 

Two of these species- P. falciparum and P. vivax pose the greatest threat. They are likely to result in severe infections and if not promptly treated, may lead to death. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented. 

 Symptoms of  Malaria is an acute febrile illness. In a non-immune individual, symptoms usually appear 10–15 days after the infective mosquito bite. 

Symptoms are; pain in the muscles or abdomen, fever, chills, fatigue, malaise, shivering, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, fast heart rate or pallor. The first symptoms are fever, headache and chills. 

Malaria may become mild and difficult to recognize as malaria, if not treated within 24 hours. P.falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness, often leading to death. 

Children with severe malaria frequently develop one or more of the following symptoms: severe anaemia, respiratory distress in relation to metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria. 

Malaria is a global pandemic, Presently, it is more prevalent in developing nations which includes Nigeria. Although the government of Nigeria and World health Organisation is fighting it with every applicable means.