1. HIV: HIV has emerged as the most dreadful infection world wide. It is caused by Human immunodeficiency virus and the disease mainly affects the immune system weakening it and the susceptibility of the person to further infections increases. HIV is transmitted by Unprotected Sexual intercourse, by blood transfusions when contaminated, by unsterilised injections, from mother during delivery and breast feeding.
2. Influenza: Influenza commonly called “Flu” is caused by Influenza virus and the symptoms are chills, fever, sore throat, cough, generalized body aches, weakness. It is transmitted by nasal secretions or directly by bird droppings. There are two types of virus, Influenza A and Influenza B. The outbreaks of influenza can lead to pandemics. Vaccination is available for influenza, which is a Trivalent vaccine.
3. Malaria: Malaria is due to bite of mosquito especially by female anopheles mosquito. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium genus and the species are P.ovale, P.malariae, P. vivax etc. Though not a dreadful course, if untreated can lead to complications and death rarely, In the endemic areas of malaria, prophylactic treatment is advised to prevent the spread.
4. Hepatitis: Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, caused by virus, toxins or as a part of systemic disease. But, most of the times cause is virus. Hepatitis virus are A, B, C, D, E. Among them most of the pathology accounts for Hepatitis virus A, B, C. Hepatitis A virus is transmitted by oral route, B by blood and sexual route. Hepatitis C virus when chronically present can lead to carcinoma liver. Vaccine is available for Hepatitis.
5. Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium species and mostly by M.tuberculosis. It is transmitted by air when the infected person coughs. It is a chronic, lethal infection if left untreated. The symptoms are chronic cough, fever, generalised body aches, weakness, loss of weight. Most of them are carriers of the bacteria, but when the immune system weakens or when the bacterial load is higher, the disease occurs.
6. Pneumonia: Pneumonia is the inflammation of lung, can be due to various causes, infection being the most common cause. Pneumonia can be due to viral or bacterial infection. The most common bacteria causing pneumonia are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia Pneumoniae. Virus causing pneumonia are rhizo virus, corona virus, Respiratory syncytial virus etc. There are few vaccines for prevention and most of the bacterial pneumonia are treated by antibiotics.
7. African trypanosomiasis: African trypanosomiasis is also called ‘Sleeping sickness’ caused by a protozoa Trypanosoma brucei and is transmitted by Tsetse fly. It is endemic in most of the african countries and it has two stages, hemolytic and neurological. Hemolytic phase is characterized by fever, joint pains, Itching etc. Neurological phase disturbs the sleep cycle as the organism enters the brain.
8. Cholera and Typhoid: Cholera and Typhoid are food and water borne diseases where the bacteria enters the Gastrointestinal tract and causes diarrhoea and vomiting. Cholera is caused by the bacterium vibrio cholerae and the symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea leading to electrolyte disturbance and is lethal if untreated.
Typhoid is caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi and it causes fever and gastrointestinal upset. If not treated, leads to complications and death rarely.
9. Gonorrhea: Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is transmitted by sexual contact. Both men and women are affected by the disease. Men have burning urination as symptom, whereas women have pelvic pain and vaginal discharge as symptoms. If left untreated can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in women and treatment is with ceftriaxone, doxycycline and azithromycin.
10. MRSA: MRSA is Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. It is resistant to commonly used antibiotics like penicillins and cephalosporins. The infection is most common in weakened immune system patients, Diabetics, Intravenous drug abusers. Spread of infection among patients in the hospitals is to be prevented by proper care.
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