Microbial agents: #4 Cause of Death
This category includes infections, bacteria, viruses that lead to death. Unsurprisingly, it includes a great number of diseases. Here’s a list of the top causes of death within this category.
This data is from 2002 and reflects death rates worldwide. I’ll only include the top 5 (it’s enough for to you get the picture)
- Lower respiratory infections (such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and emphysema). The symptoms for these are high fever, fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath.
- HIV/AIDS: HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) is a condition that eventually causes AIDS (the two are not identical, contrary to what most people think). AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and means that the person’s immune system is slowly failing, making him increasingly susceptible to infections, which eventually is likely to lead to death.
- Diarrheal diseases (such as Gastroenteritis): this category indicates an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and can be caused both by viruses, bacteria or parasites. The symptoms are acute diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headaches among others.
- Tuberculosis: this infectious disease is caused by bacteria and mostly attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. Its symptoms are fever, chronic cough and weight loss. Half the people infected eventually die.
- Malaria: this is a common infectious disease, particularly in tropical areas of the world, killing 1-3 million people every year. It is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Its symptoms are similar to anemia, and also cause fever, nausea, and potentially coma.
How to avoid being infected with contagious and dangerous illnesses?
First, it’s important to emphasize that transmission of these diseases occurs in different ways. Some diseases only require that a person cough at you (aerosolized droplets). Others require that you consume contaminated food or drink. Yet others require bodily fluid transfer (i.e. sexually transmitted diseases). There is no one way to avoid all of them. However, there are some common sense rules that can minimize the chance you’ll be infected.
- Wash and sanitize your hands often. It’s easily possible to catch an illness (even flu) by touching something that has been coughed or sneezed at, and then touching your mouth or nose.
- Try and stay away from people you know are ill. If they have been infected with one of the above diseases then definitely stay away.
- If a disease seems to be spreading in the area you reside in (an epidemic is occurring), then it might be wise to stay at home until this is resolved.
- When going out, it might be wise to wear a mask. This reduces the risk of being infected by certain illnesses.
- Boost your immune system: there are many ways to do that (i.e. taking supplements). Although it won’t help you against some diseases, it might be what makes the difference with regards to others. After all, a compromised immune system makes the body much more susceptible to disease.
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Tags: AIDS, bacteria, Boosting the immune system, epidemic, Gastroenteritis, HIV, immune system, Lower respiratory infections, Malaria, Microbial agents, Sanitazing, Tuberculosis, viruses, Wearing a mask