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Sunday, November 14, 2010
Infectious Diseases
5:36 AM |
There are at least three major elements playing role in the spread of infectious diseases. The air contamination which includes exhaust gases and tobacco smoke; the circulation of water and sexual intercourse influence the spread of infections in global context. In the developing countries these effects are intensified by malnutrition and poverty.
Air Pollution
Tuberculosis (TB) is contagious disease that spreads through the air. If not treated, each person with active TB can infect on average 10 to 15 people a year (WHO). Tuberculosis is often related to malnutrition and/or AIDS. AIDS leads to weakening of the host's immune system, making it impossible to resist the attack of variety of bacteria. Tobacco smoke and air pollution also worsens the situation. Since 1990 many organizations worked hard on decreasing the number of people affected by TB. However, in order to stop TB it is necessary to improve the systems that detect new cases by implementing new diagnostic tools and technologies. Substantial results can be reached also by developing new more effective drugs, including more efficient vaccines that are able to prevent and eliminate new infections with the disease. (StopTB)
Water Contamination
The spread of Malaria is an example like many other diseases of a vicious circle of:
- people suffering from the illness
- lack of manpower to take care of the sick
- widespread poverty
- inappropriate management of sewage
- polluted drinking water
- eutrophisation (lakes transforming into swamps)
- excellent breeding grounds for Anopheles mosquitoes (transmitting malaria)
- widespread lack of education and information
- ignorance about personal protection and prevention (simple nets can prevent the spread of malaria)
The polluted drinking water, which contains the bacteria Vibrio cholera can also cause a serious infection, namely cholera and it can also start another vicious circle.
In the 1930s Mussolini, the Italian dictator managed to stop the spread of different diseases and epidemics in Italy, including malaria, by establishing and enforcing stringent rules about forming dikes and pumping out the water from the swamps.
Another solution against Malaria is to treat it. As the people who suffer from the disease can't afford to treat it, their own governments and international donors should make more concerned effort to help with funds and management. Good example in this direction is Clinton's Global Initiative foundation and the efforts by the American government during George W. Bush to provide mosquito nets for millions in Africa.
Sexual Intercourse
The number one sexually transmitted virus in the world is the HIV, which causes the most threatening disease of nowadays and future, the AIDS. AIDS is a disease, which weakens the immune system and makes the infected people vulnerable to other illnesses. It is very important to treat this problem, as the number of people living with HIV has risen from around 8 million in the 199§ to 33 million today, and is still growing (Avert). One of the easiest solutions is to teach people about the importance of responsible sex, and the use of condoms to avoid the transmission of the HIV. The next solution is to prevent the spread of the infection from mother to child by providing the necessary treatments. The last partial solution is to treat AIDS, because there is no cure for the disease yet.
As a conclusion I would like to list some ideas about minimizing and stopping the spread of infectious diseases:
- educating children and young adults, especially in the developing countries about prevention and how to avoid infections
- donating money for treatments, vaccines and education
- sending food and bottled drinking water, first aid packages, condoms
- improving the standard of living of people in the developing countries and fighting poverty
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