Diseases and Medical Conditions Summary

Updated: 13.01.2021

Diseases and Medical Conditions Summary

Disease: a particular abnormal condition, a disorder of structure or function, that affects part or all of an organism
Acquired disease: began at some point during one's life, at any time after birth
Hereditary disease: caused by mutations that usually run in the family
Chronic disease: persists over time, usually for at least six months, and can last for the rest of the patient's life
Progressive disease: typically worsens over time until a serious state, organ failure and death
Incurable disease: cannot be cured, but sometimes the symptoms can be treated
Terminal disease: expected to have the inevitable result of death

Diseases that Cause most Deaths Worldwide:
1. ischemic heart disease - 15,5%
2. stroke - 11,1%
3. lower respiratory infections (influenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis) - 5,7%
4. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - 5,6%
5. respiratory cancers - 3%
6. diabetes - 2,8%
7. dementias - 2,7%
8. dehydration and diarrhea - 2,4%
9. tuberculosis - 2,4%
10. cirrhosis - 2,1%

          Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is an epidemic disease with high mortality. It has three forms, bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic. There is a vaccine and about 10% of patients die even with treatment. It has historically occured in large outbreaks, best known is the 14th century Black Death.
          Pestilence is any infectious disease that is highly contagious. It is also a deadly epidemic, but it can have many causes. There were many pandemics in history, for example the Spanish flu of 1918 or cholera outbreaks. Some occurences in history have unknown causes.

          An epidemic is the rapid spread of a disease among a given population in a short time. It affects an exceptionally high portion of the population in an area.
          A pandemic is an epidemic spread to multiple countries, continents or even worldwide. It affects a large number of people.
          Quarantine is the separation of people who may be infected. On the other hand, medical isolation is the separation of people who are known to be infected.

Diseases of Affluence - Diseases of Rich People - Civilisation Diseases

Diseases of affluence: mostly chronic non-communicable diseases and other conditions associated with lifestyle and social conditions, include diabetes, asthma, ischemic heart disease, stroke, dementia, obesity, hypertension, cancer, alcoholism, gout, allergy, depression, mental illness and other mental health conditions
          Obesity: excess body fat has accumulated to an extent that it may have a negative effect on health, mainly caused by lifestyle, unhealthy diet, overeating and not enough physical activity
          Cancer: groups of cells show abnormal and uncontrolled growth, destroy adjacent tissues and sometimes metastaze or spread to other locations in the body, treatment includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery

Diseases of Poverty - Diseases of Poor People

Diseases of Poverty: mostly infectious diseases or conditions which are the result of poor living conditions, risk factors include poor housing and working conditions, inadequate sanitation, exposure to sick people, malnutrition, contaminated water, stress, overwork, inadequate education, and minimal health care, these include tuberculosis, AIDS, neglected diseases, malaria, parasites, asthma and dental decay
          Tuberculosis: a lung condition caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a treatable airborne bacterium, main symptom is coughing
          AIDS: caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, patients unable to fight off diseases and the patient usually dies of common respiratory infections, spread by unprotected sex, contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles and from mother to child

Childhood Diseases

Childhood diseases: easy transmission of contagious diseases, diseases of young children include measles and tetanus, and older children include chickenpox, the fifth disease, mononucleosis, mumps, polio, rubella, scarlet fever and many others
          Chickenpox: highly contagious viral disease, symptoms include coughing, sneezing and a rash with pink bumps, sometimes also fever, appetite loss and headache
          Measles: highly contagious infection of the respiratory system that is caused by a virus, have cold-like symptoms (cough, runny nose), followed by a red flat rash with white spots, sometimes also high fever, fatigue and soggy eyes

Common Illnesses

Common illnesses: usually not very serious, spread worldwide
          Common cold: a viral illness which affects the upper respiratory tract, symptoms include cough, headache, sneezing, sore throat, runny and stuffy nose, there is no vaccine
          Influenza: a more serious viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, symptoms are more serious than a common cold, they include fever, weakness, shivering, dry cough and severe headache, stomach flu usually involves diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite

Diseases of the Respiratory System - Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory Diseases: pathological conditions affecting the gas exchange, mild include common cold, influenza and pharyngitis, serious include pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis, asthma, lung cancer and severe acute respiratory syndromes

          Pneumonia: bacterial caused usually by a streptococcus infection, the bacteria resides asymptomatically in healthy people, but in individuals with a weaker immune system the bacteria can become pathogenic

          Asthma: a long-term inflammatory diseases, caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, variable symptoms such as airflow obstruction and bronchiospasms, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, treatable but incurable disease

Diseases of the Digestive System - Gastrointestinal Diseases

Gastrointestinal Diseases: many diseases and conditions include infections, inflammation and cancer, for example appendictis, ileitis, colitis, diverticular disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS irritable bowel syndrome and funcional disorders

           Appendicitis: inflammation of the appendix located at the caecum, potentially fatal condition if left untreated, usually requires surgical intervention, symptoms include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite

          Crohn's Disease: chronic inflammatory disease connected with immunodeficiency, symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, abdominal distension and weight loss, there can be severe complications