Health Blog

Cancer is a deadly disease that affects people of all age groups and may even lead to death. Cancer may occur in any part of the body such as skin, breast, lung, etc and may gradually spread to the whole body. Cancer mainly occurs when a group of cells in the body replicate and grow uncontrollably. The rapid spread of the cancerous cells causes malignant tumor. If cancer is not detected and treated at an early stage, it may have some serious consequences and may even lead to gradual death. About 13% of deaths are caused by cancer.
So how exactly is cancer caused? Carcinogens are mainly responsible for causing cancer. Any cancer causing agent can be termed as carcinogen. For example, prolonged smoking may cause cancer. This is due to the disastrous effect of tobacco on our body. Hence tobacco can be termed as a carcinogen as it causes lung cancer. A person inhaling the smoke from cigarettes is more prone to cancer than the person who actually smokes! Other carcinogens include ionizing radiations such as ultraviolet radiations. Prolonged exposure to sun may also eventually lead to cancer. Some people also attribute cancer as a hereditary disease. Some of the symptoms of the disease are fatigue, weight loss, pain, fever, etc. It is better to consult a physician as soon as one of the above occurs.
Cancer can be treated by chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy, etc. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment with the help of drugs that destroy cancer. Radiotherapy aims to destroy the cancer cells by radiation. However this treatment will be effective only if cancer is in the early stages. Following a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables intake, regular exercises, reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight can help in preventing cancer. As the saying goes, Prevention is always better than cure.

Typhoid is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. Typhoid is spread by eating foods contaminated with the bacteria. It can also be spread from one person to another. Typhoid is quite common to occur in developing countries as the food is not so hygienic like the developed ones. Typhoid is mainly caused by drinking contaminated water and eating unhygienic food.
The common symptoms of typhoid are fever in the first stage accompanied with vomit. The bacterium multiplies in the blood stream and causes this. Gradually, it enters into the digestive tract and liver and finally enters into the small intestine causing diarrhoea. Typhoid is diagnosed by blood test commonly. The Widal test is another test to detect the presence of the salmonella bacterium .In severe conditions; typhoid may sometimes even cause death.
Typhoid is not very dangerous provided proper treatment is undergone. Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol and ampicillin are generally used for treatment. The World Health Organization recommends two vaccines to prevent typhoid, namely Vivotif Berna and Typhim Vi.Complete bed rest is necessary in the case of typhoid. Proper sanitation and personal hygiene is necessary in order to prevent typhoid from arising in the future. Preparation of food carefully and washing of hands helps in preventing this deadly disease. Public educational campaign helps in enlightening the rural people to wash their hands after toileting and eating food .After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a deadly disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).HIV is a sexually transmitted virus that attacks the CD4 cells found in blood which are responsible for fighting infection. Thus, the immune system of the body is severely damaged making the body prone to infections. AIDS is a dangerous disease and leads to death in most cases.
Some of the initial symptoms of AIDS include sore throat, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, etc. In the latter stages, it may lead to diarrhoea, high fever, blurred vision, night sweats, etc. HIV affects almost all vital organs. Pulmonary infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis is common among HIV infected individuals.
AIDS is mainly caused by the spread of the HIV virus which attacks the immune system of the body. HIV is spread through exchange of body fluids, sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, etc. AIDS can be diagonised by taking up the HIV test. A positive result in HIV test indicates that the person is infected with the virus. The earlier the test is taken; it is easier for treatment. By taking up the blood test, the CD4 count and the viral load in the body can be figured. The treatment is based on these test results. Presently there is no cure for AIDS. The best way is to prevent the disease. However, the PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) treatment is taken after exposure. PEP demands four week schedule of high dosage and can have side effects such as fatigue, malaria and diarrhoea.
HIV can also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy. In such cases, breast feeding must be avoided. Avoiding sexual contact with AIDS affected persons and avoiding intravenous drugs help in preventing AIDS.

Diabetes, also known as Diabetes mellitus is caused due to excess sugar in the blood. The insulin hormone controls the amount of sugar in the blood. However, when the sugar levels become excess, the body is unable to break the glucose into energy. Diabetes affects people of all ages and has serious complications. Diabetes is of two types-type 1 Diabetes and type 2 Diabetes.
Deficiency of insulin leads to type-1 diabetes. This type usually develops before the age of 40 years. Hence one must be careful. The body produces no insulin during type-1 diabetes. The average glucose level for type-1 patient must be 80-120 mg. on an average. Taking insulin injections throughout life and ensuring that the sugar levels in the blood stay balanced helps in controlling type-1 diabetes. Some of the main symptoms of type-1 diabetes are feeling thirsty, excessive urine, fatigues, weight loss, etc. It is best to consult a physician for treatment.Type-1 diabetes is mainly caused when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies a natural substance in the body to be harmful and then attacks it. It may also occur due to hereditary factors. Urine samples are normally tested for glucose levels. By keeping the blood sugar level normal helps in preventing diabetes.
Type-2 diabetes occurs when there is little insulin produced by the body.Type-2 diabetes is normally developed in persons in the age group of above 40 years. This type of diabetes gradually progresses and can cause severe complications. The symptoms of type-2 are common as mentioned in type-1.Obesity is one of the major cause of type-2 diabetes. High blood pressure or heart attack may also lead to type-2 diabetes. Insulin treatment is the best for type-2 diabetes. Also consuming tablets that lower the glucose level is helpful. Regular exercising, less consumption of sweets and healthy eating habit is helpful in preventing diabetes in the future.

Malaria is a vector borne disease caused mainly by a plasmodium parasite. Malaria persists in many of the countries and is said to be a deadly disease. In adverse conditions, it may even lead to death. The female anopheles mosquito, the carrier of this disease is said to be present in hot climates. Due to malaria, approximately three million deaths occur annually. Malaria is of two types-Benign malaria and malignant malaria. Benign malaria is relatively mild and much easier to treat. However, malignant malaria is caused by the plasmodium falciparum parasite. It affects mainly the brain. Some of the symptoms of malaria include fever, fatigue, anemia, joint pain, etc.
There are two phases for development of malaria namely exoerythrocytic phase (through liver) and erythrocytic phase. So how exactly is malaria spread? Malaria is spread when a female anopheles mosquito bites a person already having malaria and then transmits the parasite to another person. A blood test is normally taken to see if the person is infected with malaria. With prompt treatment, complete recovery is possible. Drugs such as quinine, primaquine, chloroquine are used for treatment. Also, sterile insect technique and spraying insecticides are used to eradicate mosquitoes. However, no vaccination is currently available for malaria. It can only be treated with the help of taking drugs. Mosquito bites can be avoided by using insect repellent, using mosquito nets, etc.

Measles is an infectious viral disease mainly spread through air. It normally lasts for 4-12 days and is highly contagious. The spread of the infection is through respiration either by coughing, sneezing or through aerosol transmission. Measles is different from smallpox. Over the past 150 years, about 200 million have died due to measles. Measles are caused by rubeola virus which lives in the mucus of nose and throat. The main symptoms of measles are the three C’s namely conjunctivitis, cough, coryza and high fever. Pneumonia may also be developed after measles. The most important characteristics of measles are the measles rash that is present from head to toe of the body and causes itching.
Measles can be diagonised by the presence of small spots. A blood test can also be done to trace out the rubella virus. There is no particular treatment for measles. Antibiotics are of no use. However, complete bed rest is necessary. Once you realize you have measles, stay away from children as they may easily get affected.
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) is given to children after 12 months. The MMR vaccine helps in fighting against measles by making the body produce antibodies. Followed by the MMR vaccine, booster dose is given at the age of 3 years to prevent measles from occurring in the future. If no vaccination is done, measles may spread rapidly and may eventually lead to deaths in the future. The government is thus taking initiatives to distribute free vaccines to the poor and the needy.

Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae which is aerobic and gram shaped. Leprosy is present in all parts of the world and may even cause death. It affects people of all age groups .In earlier days, leprosy affected people were kept away from the society and were regarded as untouchables. Nowadays, with proper medications, the disease is curable. According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 million people are disabled because of leprosy. Leprosy mainly affects the skin making the skin lighter than the normal color. Leprosy causes extensive neurological damage. Also, the sensation of touch and heat greatly reduces due to this skin lesions .Sometimes, the hands or legs also become numb. The bacteria also attack the nerves around the eyes and may also lead to blindness. There are two main forms of leprosy, namely the tuberculosis and lepromatous forms. The latter produces sores and bumps on the skin. Performing sensation testing, skin testing and testing for the enlargement of nerves.
Early detection is very important. Leprosy is curable if properly treated and diagonised otherwise they may cause severe complications such as nerve damage and cosmetic disfigurement. According to the World Health Organization, a combination of the three antibiotics- dapsone, rifampin, and clofazimine helps in the treatment of leprosy. The best way to prevent leprosy is to avoid contact with the leprosy affected persons. Long term medication is necessary in order to eliminate leprosy completely. At present no vaccines are available. Let’s hope to eradicate leprosy in the near future!

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the respiratory system to become inflamed. The swelling is mainly caused by triggers such as allergies, dust, tobacco smoke, exertion, etc. Asthma affects people of all age groups, especially children as they are more sensitive and allergic. Asthma is mainly caused due to two important factors, namely the environmental factor and the genetic factor. Environmental factors include pollution from vehicles, high ozone levels, stress, etc. The genetic factors include 25 varieties of genes that have been associated with asthma.
Asthma occurs when the bronchi become irritated and results in the production of mucus. The main symptom of asthma is wheezing. Difficulty in breathing, coughing in the night arises due to asthma. The severity is unpredictable. When asthma becomes severe, the pulse rate increases, wheezing increases, restless arises. Allergy tests are conducted to identify triggers. Peak expiratory flow rate test can be done to identify asthma. Once identified, asthma can be treated at an asthma clinic. A step wise procedure is done to prevent asthma. The first step in this process is using the inhaler which helps in reducing the asthma. The second step is for more severe asthma. In that case, another inhaler known as inhaled corticosteroids is given. If asthma still persists, the dosage is increased followed by the use of steroids. Acupuncture is also done to reduce wheezing. Asthma can be prevented by quitting smoking, avoiding triggers and doing regular exercises. People with severe asthma should undergo vaccinations for influenza.

Rickets is a vitamin deficiency disease that occurs in all age groups. In adults, the condition is often known as Osteomalacia. Rickets lead to deforming of bones in children. The bone is mainly composed of matrix, minerals, osteoclasts, osteoblasts. Calcium and Vitamin D help in formation of bones. Mainly caused due to Vitamin D and calcium deficiency, rickets occur due to malnutrition among children. Some of the main symptoms include a square shaped forehead, thickening of knees and ankles, bending of bones, poor growth and development and a condition known as rachitic rosary where the ribs look like beads. Rickets may also gradually lead to anaemia. The most vital source of Vitamin D is sunlight. It must be a regular part of our diet. Rickets may also occur genetically as it may pass on from either of the parents. Osteomalacia aggregates if you already have a bowel disease, kidney disease, etc. Rickets leads to arrested growth. When rickets occur, no more growth occurs. Premature infants are more susceptible to have rickets than normal infants. Rickets occur more in winter than summer due to the change in weather conditions.
An X-ray on the knees helps to detect rickets. The best treatment would be to maximize the intake of Vitamin D, calcium rich foods such as fish, milk, etc. Exposure to sunlight also helps in the absorption of Vitamin D. Rickets prove to be fatal when not diagonised at an early stage. It may lead to severe complications in the future. In order to prevent rickets, consume more of plant foods rather than animal foods.

Elephantiasis is caused when the skin becomes thick in the legs and the genitals. It is mainly caused by the worm Wuchereria bancrofti. The obstruction of lymphatic vessels causes water to be accumulated and thus leads to swelling. Swelling makes it very painful and it is very difficult to lead a normal life. There are two forms of elephantiasis namely the Lymphatic filariasis and Nonfilarial elephantiasis. The lymphatic filariasis is caused due to a mosquito bite. More than 100 million people all over the world are affected by this deadly disease. Nonfilarial elephantiasis is non parasitic and is mostly predominant in Africa due to malnutrition and poverty. The underdevelopment of lymph vessels causes the fluids to be accumulated. The best way to treat this is to kill the parasite through medicines such as Suramin, Diethylcarbamazine, Ivermectin.
Some of the symptoms of elephantiasis include fever, fatigue, vomiting, etc. Prevention is always better than cure. The tissue which is damaged due to elephantiasis is permanent. In order to reduce swelling, some surgery should be undergone. However, once it occurs, we can prevent further enlargement by sleeping under mosquito net. Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) is a drug used to kill the larvae completely. DEC helps in the treatment of filaria. Washing the swollen area with soap water and hot water treatment helps in controlling the infection. Other treatments include chemotherapy. Early stages of treatment lead to easy cure.