Infectious diseases.(Made by Fernando Arévalo and Juan Pablo Castro).
Infectious
diseases kill more people worldwide than any other single cause. Infectious
diseases are caused by germs. Germs are tiny living things that are
found everywhere - in air, soil and water. You can get infected by touching, eating, drinking or breathing
something that contains a germ. Germs can also spread through animal and insect
bites, kissing and sexual contact. Vaccines, proper hand washing and medicines
can help prevent infections.
There are four
main kinds of germs:
- Bacteria -
one-celled germs that multiply quickly and may release chemicals which can
make you sick
- Viruses - capsules that contain genetic material, and use your own cells to
multiply
- Fungi - primitive plants, like mushrooms or mildew
- Protozoa - one-celled animals that use other living things for food and a
place to live
Cholera: Cholera is a disease spread mostly
through contaminated drinking water and unsanitary conditions. It is endemic in
the Indian subcontinent, Russia, and sub-Saharan Africa. It is an acute
infection of the intestines with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Its main
symptom is copious diarrhea. Between 5% and 10% of those infected with the
disease will develop severe symptoms, which also include vomiting and leg
cramps. In its severe form, cholera can cause death by dehydration. An
estimated 200,000 cases are reported to WHO annually.
Malaria: Malaria
is a mosquito-borne disease that affects more than 500 million people annually,
causing between 1 and 3 million deaths. It
is most common in tropical and subtropical climates and is found in 90
countries-but 90% of all cases are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of its
victims are children. The first stage consists of shaking and chills, the next
stage involves high fever and severe headache, and in the final stage the
infected person's temperature drops and he or she sweats profusely. Infected
people also often suffer from anemia, weakness, and a swelling of the spleen.
Malaria was almost eradicated 30 years ago; now it is on the rise again.


Comentarios
Publicar un comentario