The Top 10 Deadliest Diseases Source: HealthLine.com

The news is filled with stories about Ebola, and breast cancer gets a lot of press too. Would it surprise you to know that neither makes the list of the 10 deadliest diseases?
Even more surprising, perhaps, is that several of the deadliest diseases, including the number one killer in the world, are at least partially preventable. Where a person lives, access to preventive care, and quality of healthcare all factor into their risk.
The top five deadliest diseases haven’t changed much in the past decade, but we’ve managed to lower the number of deaths for some of the top 10 deadliest diseases.

1. Coronary Artery Disease (Ischemic Heart Disease)
The deadliest disease in the world is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD, also called ischemic heart disease, occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart become narrowed. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 7.4 million people died of ischemic heart disease in 2012. That was about 13.2 percent of all deaths

In the United States, about 600,000 people die of heart disease every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That makes it the deadliest disease in the U.S., as well as the world. In the U.S. the most common type of heart disease is CAD, which takes about 380,000 lives each year.
Where you live matters. Although it’s still the leading cause of death, mortality rates have declined in many European countries and in the United States. This may be due to better prevention and access to quality healthcare. However, in many developing nations, mortality rates due to CAD are on the rise.

2. Stroke
A stroke is when an artery in the brain is blocked or leaks. Oxygen-deprived brain cells begin to die within minutes.
Stroke was responsible for 6.7 million deaths around the world in 2012, according to WHO. That figure represents about 11.9 percent of all deaths. CDC figures show that nearly 130,000 people in the United States die of stroke each year — that’s one person every four minutes.
About one in four strokes occur in people who have had a prior stroke. Stroke is also a leading cause of disability.
Risk factors for stroke are similar to those for CAD. In general, good health habits can lower your risks.

3. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a chronic, progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are types of COPD.
About 3.1 million deaths were attributed to COPD in 2012, according to WHO. That represents about 5.6 percent of deaths, a rate that has held steady since 2000. In 2004, about 64 million people around the world were living with COPD.
The main cause of COPD is tobacco — and that means secondhand smoke, too. Another factor is air pollution, both indoors and out. COPD affects men and women at about the same rate. There’s no cure for COPD, but its progression can be slowed down with medication.

The American Lung Association estimates that in 2011, 12.7 million adults in the United States had COPD, but even more showed some sign of lung problems.
There’s a great variation in the number of cases from state to state. In 2011, about 4 percent of people in Minnesota and Washington had COPD. In Alabama and Kentucky, it was more than 9 percent.

4. Lower Respiratory Infections
WHO estimates that lower respiratory infections caused about 3.1 million, or 5.5 percent of deaths in 2012. This group of diseases includes pneumonia, bronchitis, and influenza.
Flu season lasts from December through February in the Northern Hemisphere and from June through August in the Southern Hemisphere. The risk is year round in tropical regions.
According to the CDC, about 20 percent of travelers returning to the United States seek medical attention for respiratory infection following a trip.
Packed cruise ships, hotels, and other close quarters increase risk of transmission and outbreaks of disease.

5. Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung Cancers
Trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer are all respiratory cancers. The main causes of this type of cancer are smoking, second-hand smoke, and environmental toxins. WHO estimates that in 2012, 1.6 million people died from trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers.
These cancers represent about 2.9 percent of all deaths globally.

6. HIV/AIDS
HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus. It’s a virus that attacks the immune system. HIV can cause AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition.
According to the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), since the start of the pandemic, almost 39 million people have died due to HIV/AIDS.
In 2013, about 1.5 million people lost their lives to AIDS. That’s about 2.7 percent of deaths worldwide.

By the end of 2012, 35.3 million people around the world were infected with HIV. Every day, about 5,700 more become infected.
Rates vary dramatically by geographical location. HIV is rampant in sub-Saharan Africa, where almost one in 20 adults has it.
The region is home to 70 percent of all people who have HIV. Sadly, it’s also home to 91 percent of the HIV-positive children in the world.

7. Diarrheal Diseases
Diarrhea is when you pass three or more loose stools a day. When diarrhea lasts more than a few days, your body loses too much water and salt. Death is due to dehydration. Diarrhea is usually caused by an intestinal infection transmitted through viruses, bacteria, or even parasites.
This type of infection can easily spread through contaminated water or food. It’s particularly widespread in developing nations that have poor sanitary conditions.
WHO estimates that 1.5 million people died from diarrheal diseases in 2012, which comprises about 2.7 percent of deaths. Fortunately, that’s down from 2.2 million in 2000.
Diarrheal disease is the second top killer of children under age five. Tragically, about 760,000 children die from diarrheal diseases each year.

According to a 2009 Unicef report, every year there are about 2.5 billion cases of diarrhea involving children under five years old. More than 50 percent occur in Africa and South Asia. More than 80 percent of child deaths due to diarrhea occur in those regions.
According to Unicef, healthy behaviors such as good handwashing technique can reduce the incidence of diarrheal diseases by 40 percent. Progress is being made in the fight against diarrheal diseases, but much work remains.
Improved sanitization and water quality can help prevent diarrheal diseases. Access to early medical intervention can be the difference between life and death.

8. Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes is a group of diseases that affect insulin production and use. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. The cause is not known. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, or it can’t be used effectively.
Type 2 diabetes can be caused by a number of factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and carrying too much weight.
In 2012, about 1.5 million people died from diabetes-related causes, according to WHO. People in low to middle income countries are more likely to die from complications of diabetes.

9. Preterm Birth Complications
According to WHO, in 2012, as many as 1.1 million deaths were due to prematurity and complications due to low birth weight.
Three-quarters of these deaths happen within the first week of life. Lack of skilled medical care makes this a huge problem in developing countries.
Many newborn deaths could be avoided with good prenatal and postnatal care.

10. Tuberculosis (TB)
TB is a lung condition caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s an airborne disease that is often successfully treated.
Some strains of TB are resistant to conventional treatments. Second-line drugs used to treat these patients are in limited supply. Some strains fail to respond to second-line treatment as well.
In 2012, about 900,000 people lost their lives to TB, according to WHO estimates. The majority of TB-related deaths happen in poorer countries.
It is one of the top causes of death for people who have HIV.

Worthy of Mention
They didn’t make the top 10 deadliest disease list, but these diseases are definitely worth noting.
Malaria is caused by a parasite that infects mosquitos. People get it from the bite of an infected mosquito. Malaria caused about 627,000 deaths in 2012, according to WHO. Sub-Saharan Africa took the brunt with 90 percent of all malaria deaths. Malaria is not contagious.
Measles is a contagious viral disease that can be prevented through immunization. In 2010, it killed about 139,300 people around the world, according to the CDC.

1} Chronic Disease Prevention

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2} Common Conditions For Adults 65+

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3} The Sitting Disease

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4} What Do They All Have In Common?

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5} Cost Of Chronic Disease

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6} Alzheimer's Disease

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7} Estimated Annual Morbidity In The U.S.

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8} Antibiotic Resistant Infections

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9} Common Infectious Diseases Contracted By Travelers Worldwide

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10} Starting The School Year: What's In Their Backpack?

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11} The Life Cycle Of The Flu

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12} Mosquito-Borne Diseases

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13} Mosquitos And The Diseases They Carry

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14} 16 Things You Need To Know About Congenital Heart Disease

Types Of Blood Diseases
Source: New Hampshire Oncology - Hematology PA

There are many different blood diseases that are diagnosed and treated by hematologists. Some of these are benign (non-cancerous) and others are types of blood cancer.
They can involve one or more of the three main types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). They can also involve blood proteins involved in clotting. Not every blood disorder requires treatment.
This is a list of some of the more common blood disorders treated by community hematologists.

Red Blood Cell Disorders – Deficiencies or abnormalities in the red blood cells.
Anemia – A deficiency in the number of red blood cells often causing weakness and pallor. There are many potential causes of anemia.
Aplastic Anemia – A type of anemia occurring when the bone marrow fails to produce enough of all three types of blood cells: red cells, white cells, and platelets. The Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc. is a good resource to learn more about this disorder..
Sickle Cell Anemia – an inherited blood disorder where blood cells are sickle (or “C”) shaped and block blood flow. Clumps of sickle cells block blood flow to the limbs and organs, and can cause pain, serious infection, and organ damage. The American Sickle Cell Anemia Association, a nonprofit organization providing a wide range of services to those individuals and families with either sickle cell anemia, sickle cell trait, or variants of the disease.
Thalassemia – A hereditary blood disorder affecting hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen. At About Thalassemia (part of Cooley’s Anemia Foundation) patients can find general information about the different types of Thalassemia.
White Blood Cell Disorders – (abnormalities in the production of white blood cells)
Myelofibrosis – A chronic disease manifested by fibrous material in the bone marrow, anemia and an enlarged spleen. Also known as agnogenic myeloid metaplasia.
Myeloma – a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white bloods cell. Find more information at the International Myeloma Foundation.
Myelodysplasia – A group of disorders where bone marrow does not function properly and does not produce enough normal blood cells. The Myelodysplastic (MDS) Syndromes Foundation is devoted to the prevention, treatment, and study of the myelodysplastic syndromes.
Leukemia – A group of diseases where white blood cells grow uncontrollably. These diseases are classified according to how quickly the disease grows and the type of cells affected.
Lymphoma – A tumor that arises in the lymph nodes or in other lymphoid tissue.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers additional information about leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders.

Platelet Disorders– (usually a deficiency in platelets leading to easy bruising and excessive bleeding)
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) – A clinical syndrome where a decreased number of platelets causes bleeding, and easy bruising. ITP Science includes information about diagnosing ITP, treatment goals, as well as helpful information for patients recently diagnosed with the disorder.
Essential Thrombocytosis – A disorder in which platelets are overproduced, which can lead to both blood clotting and bleeding.
Clotting Disorders – Problems affecting the ability to clot blood, leading to excessive bleeding or excessive clotting. The Coagulation Factors site features articles and news on coagulation disorders, and also includes a health directory and information on clinical trials for coagulation disorder patients.
Hemophilia – A bleeding disorder caused by a problem in one of the factors of blood clotting. The National Hemophilia Foundation, focusing on three major strategic initiatives: research support and promotion; health education and training; and advocacy and community service.
Von Willebrand Disease – A hereditary disease where there is a deficiency of the von Willebrand factor, which is a factor that affects platelet function. This often leads to excessive bleeding.
Hypercoagulable states – These are inherited or acquired abnormalities that increase a person’s risk of developing a blood clot. Examples include Factor V Leiden mutations, Protein C deficiency, and Lupus anticoagulant.
Hemochromatosis – A disorder where patients absorb extra amounts of iron from their daily diet and over time. The excess iron can build up in organs such as the heart, liver, and pancreas. If left untreated, diabetes, heart disease and liver failure can result.

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7 Deadliest Diseases In History Source: QualityHealth.com

A plague that wipes out 25 million people in three years. A disease that kills its victims within hours of the symptoms appearing.
A flu that makes its sufferers turn blue before drowning in their own lungs.

It sounds like the stuff of science-fiction movies, but for centuries, these horrid diseases were very real (in fact, some of them could still post a threat today).
What are they? Read on as we uncover the seven deadliest diseases in history:

1. Smallpox
   By some accounts, smallpox is considered to have killed more people than any other infectious disease. However, thanks to the discovery of the smallpox vaccine, the last known naturally contracted case of the disease was in 1977, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
   
   During its deadliest years, this highly contagious disease killed as many of 30 percent of people who contracted it. Those who survived were often blinded or marked with deep scars.
   Despite its eradication, smallpox may still pose a threat today, if released as a biological weapon.
   
   
2. Spanish Flu
   In 1918, the so-called Spanish flu struck quickly and catastrophically. The first reports of the illness came from Spain, but it affected countries around the globe.
   Some experts put the death toll for that single year as high as 50 million people worldwide. Patients usually took on a bluish hue hours before dying, most likely due to insufficient oxygen.
   
   Autopsies revealed that their lungs filled with fluid, causing a drowning-like death. Unlike most types of influenza, which hit children and the elderly hardest, this strain proved deadly even for young adults.
   Scientists continue to study the Spanish flu to this day, trying to determine exactly what made it so deadly and if it could happen again.
   
   
3. The Black Plague
   Also known as the black death, this is the plague that kept coming back. At its most deadly, the black plague is thought to have killed 25 million people in Europe—about a third of the population—from 1347 to 1350.
   
   The high death toll from the black plague, so named for the black boils it left on the body, is believed to have actually been a result of three similar illnesses:
   - Bubonic Plague
   - Septicaemic Plague
   - Pneumonic Plague
   The scourge swept through Europe, killing millions more, on other occasions throughout the next several centuries.
   However, in no instance did its severity match that of the black death of the mid-14th century.
   
   
4. Tuberculosis
   The 1905 Nobel Prize in Medicine went to Robert Koch for "his investigations and discoveries" relating to tuberculosis (TB), according to the Nobel Foundation.
   However, more than 100 years later, TB still kills nearly 2 million people a year and is ranked as the eighth leading cause of death worldwide by the WHO.
   
   Symptoms including severe coughing, fever, chills, and fatigue. People with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to TB; in fact, it's the number-one killer of AIDS patients.
   In 2007, Andrew Speaker, an Atlanta lawyer and TB patient, made headlines for flying from Europe to Canada, despite being instructed not to do so for fear of infecting fellow passengers.
   
   
5. Malaria
   Caused by a parasite and transmitted when a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, Malaria remains a serious problem in parts of Africa, although it has been nearly eradicated in the United States.
   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 million people die from it annually, and as many as 500 million people are infected each year. The flu-like symptoms appear after 10 to 15 days after being bitten.
   Malaria can be treated with medication, if caught soon enough.
   
   
6. Ebola
   This virus is a relatively new deadly disease that has been known to kill up to 90 percent of its victims. It first appeared in 1976, in Sudan and Zaire.
   It can be transmitted from person to person or by handling materials from an infected animal. Its early symptoms include fever, headache, backache, vomiting, and diarrhea; eventually it can cause inflammation and swelling of nearly all major organs.
   Most people die from shock, when their bodies stop getting enough blood flow.
   
   
7. Cholera
   Cases of cholera are rare today, due to advancements in water treatment and sewage systems. However, in the 19th and even early 20th centuries, cholera epidemics struck several times.
   The disease, which is characterized by watery diarrhea, can kill a healthy person as soon as two to three hours after the onset of symptoms, though it usually takes several days.
   
   Although cholera is still present today in parts of the world that have been ravaged by war or famine, it generally doesn't pose a problem when clean water and proper sanitation is available.
   A vaccine, which lasts for up to six months, is available for people traveling to areas where cholera may be a concern, though some experts question its necessity and effectiveness.

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10 Most Common Diseases Found In Hospitals
Source: NursingSchoolHub.com

In what might be a pretty startling statistic for those who are not part of the health professions, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that just ten different diseases are responsible for a full 84 percent of all hospital visits and all complications among patients once they have been admitted to the hospital.
In a world where it seems like health threats are increasing by the day, this list of potential viral infections and microbial ailments has remained remarkably consistent over the course of the past few decades.
To get a better understanding of the human immune system, as well as the way hospitals are setup to deal with these problems, it’s worth reviewing each of these ten diseases and how they manifest themselves in a stunning 84 percent of common cases.

1. Norovirus
   Noroviruses are generally called “the flu” by many patients, most of whom believe that the symptoms of the resulting gastroenteritis are somehow linked to influenza itself. Norovirus infections typically result in diarrhea, vomiting, and the long-lasting feeling of an upset stomach.
   Though these symptoms are exceedingly unpleasant, and may last for several days at a time, healthcare professionals cannot treat them with antibiotic drugs.
   Patients, therefore, are advised to make sure that they attempt to eat meals at regular intervals, and they’re advised to stay hydrated so that the body does not suffer through the effects of dehydration after a few days of symptoms.
   
   
2. Mycobacterium Abscessus
   One of the most serious sources of hospital acquired infections is mycobacterium abscessus. This bacterium is generally known to be the cause of such serious illnesses as leprosy and tuberculosis, and it can be found in any number of compounds.
   The bacteria have been known to exist in soil, dust, or water, and it has even been known to infect medications and to reside on medical equipment.
   
   This represents a very serious concern in today’s busiest medical environments, and many hospitals have procedures in place specifically to prevent against the spread of this bacteria and the potential infection of new patients who come to the hospital with other ailments.
   If infection from this bacteria does result, patients are most likely to notice irritable infections of the skin and soft tissues, though a slight minority may actually experience lung infections that can be quite serious and severe.
   Medical treatment is almost always required for a full and quick recovery from any kind of mycobacterium abscessus infection.
   
   
3. Klebsiella
   Another very serious source of hospital acquired infections is the bacteria known as Klebsiella. This gram-negative bacteria almost always infects patients after a visit to the hospital, as it seems to be particularly at home on medical equipment in patient treatment areas.
   Infection by this bacteria can result in a number of serious ailments, including an infection of the bloodstream, infection of any open wounds or surgical sites, or the onset of a very serious form of pneumonia.
   Treatment is generally quick and straightforward, although some antimicrobial strains of the bacteria have required added research and more serious forms of treatment in a small minority of today’s patients.
   
   
4. Influenza
   Without a doubt, one of the most common and persistent types of viral infection is influenza. The disease comes and goes with varying degrees of potency every year but most medical professionals estimate that between 5 percent and 20 percent of the American population is infected each year.
   Influenza is also responsible for annual hospitalization of as many as 200,000 Americans. Typically, those hospitalized by the disease are those at the extreme young or old ends of the spectrum, though it’s not entirely unheard of for healthy, young adult sufferers to experience complications.
   This community-based virus is easy to contract, especially when cases have been cited near the hospital’s location during the height of what is known as “flu season.”
   
   
5. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
   Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an infection that results from a common form of bacteria more widely called just Pseudomonas. The infection is quite common in medical settings, though it targets a specific group of people.
   In almost every case, a bout of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found in those patients who are already experiencing vastly weakened or suppressed immune systems as a result of a larger medical condition during their stay in a medical environment or long-term care facility.
   Treatment of this bacterial infection is generally pursed through the prescription of high dosage antibiotics, and the problem generally eases within 24 to 48 hours of first treatment.
   
   
6. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
   Abbreviated as MRSA, this staph bacteria has evolved over time to become immune to many of the most popular antibacterial drugs. Indeed, MRSA can often not be treated with either penicillin or amoxicillin, with most patients requiring higher doses of more nontraditional antibiotics in order to defeat the condition.
   It often manifests itself in the form of a skin infection in most patients, and should be treated by a medical professional as soon as any signs or symptoms have been noticed by the patient.
   Staph bacteria does represent one of the most aggressive bacterial threats to the human body.
   
   
7. Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
   VRE is so named because this bacterial infection is resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. Infections of this nature are most common in medical settings, especially when a patient is admitted to the hospital for long-term care and nursing.
   Most sufferers experience symptoms that affect the intestines, which can result in a case of upset stomach, minor vomiting, or even occasional diarrhea.
   The good news for those suffering from this bacterial infection, though, is that treatment is rather quick and easy with alternative antibiotics in heavier doses.
   
   
8. Tuberculosis (TB)
   Most often, the transmission of tuberculosis in medical and nursing environments is done on a patient-to-patient basis. Typically, this is because one patient with the disease is simply not isolated from the rest of the hospital’s population.
   In other cases, it’s because the patient simply was not aware that they suffered from TB at the time of their admission to the facility. Most forms of TB can be treated and minimized, though particularly aggressive strains of the disease have shown a great deal of resistance to antibiotics that are typically used to treat the condition.
   
   
9. Vancomycin-Intermediate or Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
   Known in the medical community as either VISA or VRSA, these two diseases are actually quite common among those patients who have medical equipment attached to their body on a long-term or permanent basis.
   Those with kidney problems are particularly predisposed to infection, as are those patients who commonly use a catheter tube before, during, or after some kind of serious surgery.
   
   The two forms of staphylococcus are so named because they are moderately or entirely resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. Treatment can be conducted using other antibiotic drugs, however, and most patients are able to recover from this infection when it is caught early, treated effectively, and prevented on a proactive basis going forward.
   Unlike viral infections, however, bacterial infections can occur again at any time. For this reason, increased vigilance is urged of those who are connected to medical devices that penetrate the skin, enter the body, and assist with daily functions like kidney function, urination, and many others.
   
   
10. Staphylococcus Aureus
    In what might be the least invasive and least concerning disease commonly found in hospitals, Staphylococcus aureus is actually present in just under one third of the entire population.
    The condition is associated with negative effects on the skin, as it is typically a skin infection. The side effects of the disease most often manifest themselves in small, pimple-like growths that ebb and flow over the course of the infection.
    Treatment with antibiotics is effective in virtually every case, and this less severe form of staphylococcus can be eradicated in just a few days after treatment has commenced.

Plenty of Threats: A Bacterial or Viral Infection is All Too Common
The very nature of today’s hospitals means that patients are exposed more than ever to the potential for both viral and bacterial infections, placing their health at risk in at least ten ways during every visit.
The good news is that virtually every common infection or disease transmitted at today’s hospitals can be treated with either extended vigilance or a robust dose of antibiotics.
In fact, many of these diseases are considered relatively minor in the grand scheme of hospital infections and the diseases treated at today’s medical centers.

Even so, it’s a good idea for patients to be vigilant during their next visit to a nearby hospital, long-term care facility, or even a family practice clinic.
The cleanliness of the facility is especially worth noting, with regular disinfecting of medical supplies and surfaces being the key to the long-tern health of patients.
Furthermore, those patients who are admitted for long-term care in a hospital or other facility should perform due diligence to make sure that they, and their nurses, are keeping everything clean and free of disease.
With great care, great cleanliness, and long-term vigilance, these ten common diseases can be avoided altogether.

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20 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Disease That Is Today the No. 1 Infectious Disease Killer In The World
Source: HuffingtonPost.com
By Dr. Lucica Ditiu

Even though we are in the XXI century, there is a disease that is still claiming a huge number of lives, similar to what was happening in the 18th and 19th century.
Politicians, celebrities, high level dignitaries, and even ordinary people know too little about it, and it is time to address this.
It is such a silent killer that most people think that we do not have it anymore.
Here are 20 facts that you may not know.

1. This disease is spread through the air, and no one breathing is immune from this — anyone can get infected in as little as a flight duration or while being in a waiting room with people spreading it.
2. Anyone sick with this disease and not on treatment can spread it when they cough, sneeze, spit or sing.
3. People with the disease can infect their children, family members, friends and colleagues.
4. 2 billion people — or one-third of the world’s population — is already infected with it.
5. Nearly 4,500 people die every day from this disease, including 400 children — making it the No. 1 infectious disease killer in the world.
6. People living with HIV are 30 times more likely to become sick with the disease.
7. People with diabetes are three times more likely to become sick with the disease than people without diabetes.
8. Even though we have known how to cure it for the last 60 years, we are not even close to eliminating it.
9. There are forms of this disease, spread through the air as well that are resistant to almost all known effective antibiotics, making it virtually untreatable.
10. If sick with a drug resistant form of this disease, the treatment takes two years or more and the drugs have side effects such as deafness, blindness, depression and even suicide.
11. The two-year treatment for drug resistance means people need to take 15,000 pills and 240 injections.
12. The disease can make women infertile.
13. The disease can occur in bones, in the urinary tract, or in the brain.
14. The main tool used worldwide today for diagnosis of this disease was discovered in the 19th century.
15. The only vaccine available for this disease is 100 years old and has limited efficacy.
16. It is one of the best investments in public health — for each dollar invested, it gives $85 in return.
17. The world needs to invest $65 billion over the next five years ($56 billion in implementation and $9 billion in research) if we are to tackle ending this disease.
18. 10 million lives can be saved and 45 million cases of this diseases can be avoided with a $56 billion dollar investment between 2016-2020.
19. Every year almost 4 million people with the disease are not recorded, diagnosed, treated or cured and each one is very likely to infect 10 to 15 other people per year
20. The world has the power to end this disease — we just need to want to do it.

This disease is tuberculosis (TB).
Today, the Stop TB Partnership launched its new five-year investment plan, the Global Plan to End TB 2016-2020: The Paradigm Shift, which represents the roadmap to accelerating impact on the TB epidemic and reaching the targets of the WHO End TB Strategy.
The world is losing its battle with tuberculosis (TB), which is now the biggest infectious killer globally, causing 1.5 million deaths every year.
Without a clear investment plan and a complete overhaul in how this disease is tackled, TB is unlikely to be eliminated until the end of the 22nd century, and the world will miss the recently announced Sustainable Development Goal to end TB by 2030.

To implement the actions proposed in the Global Plan to End TB first and foremost, a change in mindset is required - with a combination of existing tools and new ones in development, the disease can and will be defeated.
The new strategy is centered on a human rights and gender approach, stronger political leadership and a community and patient-based focus.
And the plan also highlights we must also have new and innovative TB programs, integrated interventions within country health systems, and improvements to the poor socioeconomic conditions in which TB can thrive (including overcrowded housing and undernutrition).
We know it can be done, we know how it can be done, we know how much it will cost us — we need to have the desire to do it and energy to move on.
Ours can be the generation remembered as the one that turned the tide on this enormous yet treatable epidemic.
Follow Dr. Lucica Ditiu on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LucicaDitiu

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32 Facts About Adult Vaccinations
Source: National Foundation For Infectious Diseases

1. FACT: Between 3,000 and over 49,000 people die from influenza in the United States each year.
2. FACT: Although the severity of flu seasons can vary widely, from about 5 to 20 percent of the population can be infected with influenza in any year.
3. FACT: Influenza vaccination can reduce physician visits and lost work days, and reduce antibiotic use.
4. FACT: People on Medicare Part B can get influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines (if they are at risk of hepatitis B disease) at no cost.
5. FACT: Each year in the US, pneumococcal disease causes nearly 50,000 cases of bacteremia (bloodstream infection), and several thousand cases of meningitis (inflammation of the tissues and fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord).
6. FACT: Pneumococcal vaccination is one-time for adults age 65 years and older.
7. FACT: Adults younger than age 65 years who have asthma, diabetes, or certain other chronic conditions, or who smoke need pneumococcal vaccination.
8. FACT: There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines available for adults. Adults with immunocompromising conditions; a damaged or missing spleen; cochlear implants; or CSF leaks need to receive both vaccines.
9. FACT: In the US, an estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus and can infect household members and sexual partners.
10. FACT: Hepatitis B virus is found in blood and other body fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions of infected persons.
11. FACT: Hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
12. FACT: The hepatitis B vaccine prevents cancer, specifically primary liver cancer caused by chronic hepatitis B infection.
13. FACT: Adults age 19 through 59 with diabetes are more than twice as likely as those without diabetes to develop an acute hepatitis B infection.
14. FACT: More than 50 percent of new hepatitis B cases could be prevented if hepatitis B vaccination were offered routinely to all persons attending sexually transmitted disease clinics and to all correctional facility inmates.
15. FACT: By age 50 years, 80 percent of women will be infected with human papillomavirus. While most women will clear the virus, some will not. The virus causes 70 percent of all cervical cancers.
16. FACT: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cancer of the penis, anus, mouth, and throat.
17. FACT: Shingles causes a painful, blistering rash that usually appears on just one side of the body, most often on the torso or face.
18. FACT: There are about one million cases of shingles in the US every year.
19. FACT: Before hepatitis A vaccine became available in the US, more than 250,000 individuals were infected with hepatitis A virus each year.
20. FACT: An estimated 100 deaths from hepatitis A occur in the US each year.
21. FACT: Hepatitis A is one of the most common vaccine-preventable disease acquired during travel outside the US.
22. FACT: Due to high immunization rates, 50 or fewer cases of tetanus occur each year in the US.
23. FACT: Tetanus is fatal in about 10 percent of cases in the US with most deaths occurring in those age 60 years and older and people with diabetes.
24. FACT: Almost all reported cases of tetanus occur in persons who either never completed the primary vaccination series or who have not had a booster vaccination in the past 10 years.
25. FACT: Whooping cough in adults may range from mild to classic whooping cough, causing long coughing spasms and even things like cracked ribs.
26. FACT: Parents and other adults are the most common source of whooping cough infection in infants, who are at highest risk of death from whooping cough.
27. FACT: Complications from measles are more common among adults and young children.
28. FACT: If rubella (German measles) occurs during pregnancy, it can result in severe birth defects, miscarriages, and stillbirths.
29. FACT: In 2006 and 2009-10, the US experienced large mumps outbreaks. The majority of cases were among people 18 to 24 years old (2006) and 7 to 18 years old (2009-10).
30. FACT: Serious complications of mumps are more common among adults than children.
31. FACT: Adolescents and adults are more likely than children to develop severe complications when infected with the chickenpox virus.
32. FACT: Adults are much more likely than children to die from chickenpox if they get it.

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Facts About ID (Infectious Diseases)
Source: Infectious Disease Society of America

Infectious diseases are caused by microscopic organisms that penetrate the body’s natural barriers and multiply to create symptoms that can range from mild to deadly.
Although progress has been made to eradicate or control many infectious diseases, humankind remains vulnerable to a wide array of new and resurgent organisms.

Obstacles in Infection Treatment

• New, potentially dangerous bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerge every year.
• Previously recognized pathogens can evolve to become resistant to available antibiotics and other treatments.
• Population crowding and easy travel also make us more vulnerable to the spread of infectious agents.
• Recent concerns about bioterrorism have focused new attention on eradicated or rare infectious diseases such as smallpox and anthrax.

Types of Infection
Some infections, such as measles, malaria, HIV and yellow fever, affect the entire body. Other infections affect only one organ or system of the body.
The most frequent local infections, including the common cold, occur in the upper respiratory tract.
A serious and usually local infection of the respiratory tract is tuberculosis, which is a problem worldwide.
Other common sites of infection include the digestive tract, the lungs, the reproductive and urinary tracts, the eyes or ears. Local infections can cause serious illnesses if they affect vital organs such as the heart, brain or liver.
They also can spread through the blood stream to cause widespread symptoms.

The outcome of any infection depends on the virulence of infectious agents, the number of organisms in the infecting inoculum and the response of the immune system.
A compromised immune system, which can result from diseases such as AIDS or treatment of diseases such as cancer, may allow organisms that are ordinarily harmless to proliferate and cause life-threatening illness.

Modes of Infection Common ways in which infectious agents enter the body are through skin contact, inhalation of airborne microbes, ingestion of contaminated food or water, bites from vectors such as ticks or mosquitoes that carry and transmit organisms, sexual contact and transmission from mothers to their unborn children via the birth canal and placenta.

Prevention and Treatment
Immunization
Modern vaccines are among our most effective strategies to prevent disease. Many devastating diseases can now be prevented through appropriate immunization programs. In the United States, it is recommended that all children be vaccinated against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, measles, rubella (German measles), mumps, Haemophilus influenza type B (a common cause of pneumonia and meningitis in infants), hepatitis B, varicella (chickenpox) and influenza.
Travelers to foreign countries may require vaccinations against yellow fever, cholera, typhoid fever or hepatitis A or B.

Public Health Measures
Measures that assure clean water supplies, adequate sewage treatment, and sanitary handling of food and milk also are important to control the spread of infectious disease.
Surveillance
The fight against infectious diseases requires worldwide surveillance by physicians, scientists and public health officials who gather information on communicable diseases, report new or resurgent outbreaks of disease, and develop standards and guidelines for treating and controlling disease.
Treatment
The development of antibiotics and other antimicrobials has played an important role in the fight against infectious diseases, but some microorganisms develop resistance to the drugs used against them.
Modern physicians must prescribe antibiotics carefully, and research and development of new drugs is needed.
The more widely antibiotics and antivirals are used, the more likely it is that antimicrobial-resistant strains of microorganisms will emerge.

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Viral Diseases Source: HealthGrades.com

What are viral diseases?
Viral diseases are extremely widespread infections caused by viruses, a type of microorganism. There are many types of viruses that cause a wide variety of viral diseases.
The most common type of viral disease is the common cold, which is caused by a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat).
Other common viral diseases include:

• Chickenpox
• Flu (influenza)
• Herpes
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Mumps, measles and rubella
• Shingles
• Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
• Viral hepatitis
• Viral meningitis
• Viral pneumonia

Viral diseases are contagious and spread from person to person when a virus enters the body and begins to multiply.​
Common ways that viruses spread from person to person include:

• Breathing in air-borne droplets contaminated with a virus
• Eating food or drinking water contaminated with a virus
• Having sexual contact with a person who is infected with a sexually transmitted virus
• Indirect transmission from person to person by a virus host, such as a mosquito, tick, or field mouse
• Touching surfaces or body fluids contaminated with a virus

Viral diseases result in a wide variety of symptoms that vary in character and severity depending on the type of viral infection and other factors, including the person’s age and overall health.
Common symptoms of viral diseases include flu-like symptoms and malaise.
Viral diseases are not treatable with antibiotics, which can only cure bacterial diseases and infections. However, the most common viral diseases, the common cold and the flu, are self-limiting in generally healthy people.
This means that the viral infection causes illness for a period of time, then it resolves and symptoms disappear as your immune system attacks the virus and your body recovers.

In some cases, viral diseases can lead to serious, possibly life-threatening complications, such as dehydration, bacterial pneumonia, and other secondary bacterial infections.
People at risk for complications include those who have a chronic disease or a suppressed or compromised immune system, and the very young and very old. In addition, certain types of sexually transmitted viral infections, such as HIV/AIDS and HPV, can lead to serious complications and death.
Seek prompt medical care if you think you have a viral disease, especially if you are at risk for complications, or if you believe you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease.

Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have serious symptoms of an illness or a viral disease, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, passing out (fainting), or a change in alertness or consciousness.

What are the symptoms of viral diseases?
Symptoms of viral diseases vary depending on the specific type of virus causing infection, the area of the body that is infected, the age and health history of the patient, and other factors.
The symptoms of viral diseases can affect almost any area of the body or body system.
Symptoms of viral diseases can include:

• Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, aches and pains)
• Gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
• Irritability
• Malaise (general ill feeling)
• Rash
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose, nasal congestion, runny nose, or postnasal drip
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Swollen tonsils
• Unexplained weight loss

In infants, signs of a viral disease can also include:

• Bulging of the soft spot on the top of the head
• Difficulty with feeding
• Excessive crying or fussiness
• Excessive sleepiness

In some cases, viral diseases can result in serious complications, such as dehydration or pneumonia.
Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of the following symptoms:

• Change in alertness or level of consciousness
• Chest pain
• Deep, wet chest cough that produces yellow, green or brownish phlegm
• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Lethargy or unresponsiveness
• Seizure
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, or difficulty breathing
• Stiff neck
• Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

What causes viral diseases?
Viral infections occur when a virus enters the body and invades the inside of the body’s cells in order to reproduce.
If the body’s immune system is unable to fight off the virus, it multiplies and spreads to other cells, repeating the process and leading to a widespread infection.

Types of viruses
There are many types of viruses that cause a wide variety of viral infections or viral diseases. In fact, there are more than 200 different viruses that can cause a cold or an upper respiratory infection.
Other common viruses include the following:

• Epstein-Barr virus causes infectious mononucleosis (cytomegalovirus causes a very similar disease in some people).
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS.
• Human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause HPV infection, cervical dysplasia, genital warts, and cervical cancer.
• Influenza viruses, such as H1N1, cause influenza (flu).
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes lower respiratory tract infections in young children.
• Rhinoviruses cause the common cold.
• Rotavirus, enteroviruses and noroviruses cause viral gastroenteritis.
• Varicella zoster virus causes shingles and chickenpox.
• West Nile virus causes West Nile fever.

Various ways to become infected with a virus
You can catch a virus in a variety of ways including:

• Being bitten by an animal infected with a virus
• Being bitten by an insect infected with a virus, such as with West Nile virus
• Breathing in air-borne droplets contaminated with a virus
• Eating food or drinking water contaminated with a virus
• Having sexual contact with a person who is infected with a sexually transmitted virus
• Sharing needles for tattooing or drug use with an infected person
• Touching infected feces or body fluids and not washing your hands before eating or touching your mouth, eyes or nose
• Touching surfaces contaminated with a virus
• Transmission of a virus from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or delivery

What are the risk factors for contracting viral diseases?
Viral diseases can occur in any age group or population. Everybody contracts viral diseases during their life, although in some cases, the virus does not cause obvious symptoms.
Risk factors for catching a viral disease or developing complications of a viral disease include:

• Advanced age
• Compromised immune system due to an immunodeficiency disorder, HIV/AIDS, cancer or cancer treatment, kidney disease, or other condition
• History of chronic disease, such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, tuberculosis, or heart disease
• Malnourishment
• Not getting enough rest and having high levels of stress
• Not washing your hands frequently, especially before eating or after using the restroom, or after touching common surfaces
• Sharing needles to inject drugs or for tattooing
• Unprotected sex including vaginal, oral and anal sex with a partner who has had one or more other sexual partners
• Young age including infancy and elementary-school-age children

Reducing your risk of viral diseases
You can lower your risk of catching or spreading a viral disease by:

• Abstaining from sexual activity, or only engaging in sexual activities within a mutually monogamous relationship in which neither partner is infected with a sexually transmitted disease
• Avoiding contact of your hands with your eyes, nose and mouth, which can transmit a virus into the body
• Avoiding contact with a person who has a viral disease
• Covering your mouth and nose with your elbow (not your hand) or a tissue when sneezing or coughing
• Eating a well-balanced diet that includes sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables
• Sufficient rest
• Using a new condom for each sex act
• Using a sterile, unused needle for each act of tattooing or injectable drug use
• Using appropriate antibacterial cleaners to clean your hands and surfaces
• Vaccination as recommended by your health care provider for viral diseases, such as chickenpox, shingles, influenza, HPV, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, measles, and mumps
• Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds after contact with a person who has a viral disease, before eating, or after using the restroom or touching feces, body fluids, surfaces, or foods that are potentially contaminated with viruses

How are viral diseases treated?
Treatment of viral infections varies depending on the specific virus and other factors. General treatment measures are aimed at relieving your symptoms so that you can get the rest you need to keep up your strength and recover without developing complications.
General treatments for viral infections include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) for fever, body aches, and pain
• Drinking extra fluids
• Getting extra rest and sleep
• Maintaining good nutrition

Depending on the type of viral infection and the presence of complications, a wide variety of other treatments may be needed.
For example, a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection that leads to cervical dysplasia can be treated by surgical removal of the abnormal cells on a woman’s cervix.

In general, it is recommended that children younger than age six not use cold or cough medications because of the risk for serious side effects.
In addition, people with a viral disease should not use aspirin or products that contain aspirin because of the risk of developing a rare but life-threatening condition called Reye syndrome.
Reye syndrome has been linked to taking aspirin during a viral illness, such as a cold or the flu.

Prescription medications used to treat viral diseases
In some cases, certain medications may be prescribed to treat viral diseases:

• Antiretroviral medications, which can help people with HIV/AIDS lead longer lives. Antiretroviral medications hinder the ability of HIV to reproduce, which slows the spread of HIV in the body.
• Antiviral drugs, which minimize the severity and length of some viral infections, such as the flu and shingles, especially in people who are at a high risk for serious complications. For example, the drugs oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu) and zanamivir (brand name Relenza) may be prescribed for some cases of flu. These drugs are not appropriate for all people with the flu.

Antibiotics, which are not prescribed for viral diseases because they are ineffective in the treatment of viral infections, may be prescribed if a person with a viral disease develops a secondary bacterial infection, such as bacterial pneumonia, bacterial bronchitis, or encephalitis.

Complementary treatments
Complementary and traditional treatments will not cure a viral disease but may help to increase comfort, promote rest, and minimize symptoms of viral diseases.
Some possible treatments include:

• Chicken soup to help break up congestion and provide easy-to-digest nutrients and extra fluids to help keep up strength
• Supplements or products that contain vitamin C, echinacea, or zinc
• Using a vaporizer
• Using mentholated ointments on the chest

What are the possible complications of viral diseases?
In some people, viral diseases can break down the body’s defenses and lead to more serious infections and life-threatening complications.
Therefore, it is important to visit your health care provider when you have symptoms of a viral infection.
Once the underlying infection has been determined, following the treatment plan outlined by your health care provider can help reduce any potential complications including:

• Acute bronchitis
• Cervical cancer (from human papillomavirus infection)
• Dehydration
• Frequent life-threatening, opportunistic infections
• Otitis media (ear infection)
• Pneumonia
• Secondary bacterial infection
• Seizures
• Shock and coma
• Sinusitis
• Worsening of asthma

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In no particular order, here are links to a few more places with various miscellaneous topics with information about Diseases

• 100 Most Common Diseases And Their Home Remedies
  No one loves to visit a doctor but no matter how fit and healthy a person is, he or she is bound to experience any of these most common diseases.
  In a world where health problems are growing day after day, this list of common microbial ailments and viral infections has been reported to remain consistent in the past few decades.
  The rates at which they affect the global population today is already high but it is anticipated to increase even more in the upcoming years.
• Understanding Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases
  The term "disease" refers to conditions that impair normal tissue function. For example, cystic fibrosis, atherosclerosis, and measles are all considered diseases.
  However, there are fundamentally different causes for each of these diseases. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is due to a specific genotype that results in impaired transport of chloride ions across cell membranes, leading to the production of abnormally thick mucus. Thus, CF is most accurately called a genetic or metabolic disease.
• Diseases & Conditions: Information About Diseases, Viruses, Conditions, and Prevention
  Here over 175 Diseases and Conditions Are listed alphabetically. If the disease or condition that you are looking for is not list you can use the on site A-Z search.
• Disease Precautions for Outdoor Enthusiasts and Their Companion Animals
  This reference guide is intended to be a general guide about diseases that outdoor enthusiasts (such as campers, canoers/kayakers, backpackers and hikers) and their companion animals may encounter.
  Links to additional information have been provided where appropriate. Outdoor enthusiasts should always consult their physician if they are concerned that they have been exposed to a disease or are showing symptoms of illness.
  If there are concerns that your animal companion may have contracted any of these diseases, consult your veterinarian.
• Benareya Research Institute (BRI) List of Diseases That BRI Researches
  Benaroya Research Institute's scientists are focused on identifying causes and cures for autoimmune and immune system diseases including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus and many more.
  BRI also works with Virginia Mason Medical Center in other areas of disease research and clinical studies such as heart disease and cancer.
• Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)
  Browse the GARD list of rare diseases and related terms to find topics of interest to you. This list includes the main name for each condition, as well as alternate names.
  Inclusion on this list does not serve as official recognition by the NIH that a disease is rare. Some conditions that are not considered rare are on this list and are labeled accordingly.
• Autoimmune Disease List
  One of the functions of the immune system is to protect the body by responding to invading microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, by producing antibodies or sensitized lymphocytes (types of white blood cells).
  Under normal conditions, an immune response cannot be triggered against the cells of one's own body. In some cases, however, immune cells make a mistake and attack the very cells that they are meant to protect.
  This can lead to a variety of autoimmune diseases. They encompass a broad category of related diseases in which the person's immune system attacks his or her own tissue.
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
  Founded in 1973, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the causes, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases across the lifespan.
• Addiction Has A New Definition - It Is A Disease Not Just Bad Choices Or Behaviors
  Addiction is a chronic brain disorder, and not merely a behavioral problem or simply the result of making the wrong choices, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), which has given addiction a new and long definition.
  ASAM says that addiction is much, much more than a behavioral problem involving excessive drugs, sex, gambling or alcohol.
• Brain Diseases
  Brain diseases come in different forms. Infections, trauma, stroke, seizures, and tumors are some of the major categories of brain diseases.
  Here is an overview of various diseases of the brain.
• ClinicalTrials.gov A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world.
• Difference Between Acute and Chronic
  People often get confused with these terms acute and chronic in medical conditions. Usually, acute means sudden onset of a disease or injury whereas chronic diseases develop slowly and gradually.
• Rare Diseases Worldwide: Facts and Statistics
  Although rare and genetic diseases, and many times the symptoms, are uncommon to most doctors, rare diseases as a whole represent a large medical challenge.
  Combine this with the lack of financial or market incentives to treat or cure rare diseases, and you have a serious public health problem.
• 11 Facts About HIV Around The World
  Welcome to DoSomething.org, a global movement of 5.5 million young people making positive change, online and off! Here are the 11 facts you want, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page
  After you learn something, do something! Find out how to take action here.
• Global Public Health Threats
  Global public health security depends on actions to prevent and respond to threats that endanger the collective health of the global population.
  Those threats have an impact on economic or political stability, trade, tourism, access to goods and services and, if they occur repeatedly, on demographic stability.
  Global public health security covers a wide range of complex and daunting issues, including the health consequences of human behavior, climate change, weather-related events and infectious diseases, as well as natural catastrophes and man-made disasters, all of which are discussed here.
• Diseases: Statistics and Facts
  A disease is a condition which threatens a human’s state of health, causing many problems, such as pain, distress, dysfunction, social problems, and death.
  In fact, diseases include a large part of all causes of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide.
  Ischemic heart disease alone was responsible for about 8.76 million deaths in 2015. However, all cardiovascular diseases together cause over 17 million deaths annually worldwide.