The world has never been free of disease; mankind has suffered its scourge throughout the ages. Whole civilizations were erased due to deadly diseases, most notably the ‘black death’ which caused the death of 45 million Europeans. Therefore, it becomes essential for every human being to have sufficient and adequate knowledge about the most common diseases which when not adhered to, can cause serious damage.

A disease commonly caused by the mosquitoes is known as malaria and it’s rated as one of the threatening and dangerous disease which is present in the modern world. It’s found almost everywhere in the world but its most common in Africa and Asia as there are no proper sanitation and sewerage disposal facilities. It’s caused by a vector virus and the host is a female mosquito.

Tuberculosis affects both human and animals and is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lungs known as Pulmonary TB, but can also affect bones and lymph nodes. With the discovery of antibiotics, TB is a treatable and 100% curable disease, but needs years of attention even after symptoms have subsided. TB was first identified in 1882 by Robern Kochs. Lately there has been a resurgence of the disease, possibly by a resistance to the existing drugs.

Typhoid a serious, sometimes fatal infection of the digestive tract is caused by the bacterium salmonella typhi. It is transmitted through contaminated food and water. The bacterium responds well to penicillin and is 100% curable.

Cancer is caused by the mutation of cells which form malignant tumors and can affect any part of one’s body including the blood. Malignant tumors invade and destroy surrounding tissues as well, with the blood stream carrying it to form the secondary uneven growth of cells. The precise cause for cancer is still unknown, but it has been associated with smoking and exposure to radiation. UV rays and chemicals known as carcinogens, hereditary factors and hormonal imbalance cannot be ruled out. Cancer, if detected early enough is curable by surgery, drugs, chemotherapy and radiation, in most cases a combination of all four.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver usually caused by a viral infection, but also occurs due to toxic substances or as a complication of other diseases including jaundice. Type A, C and E are spread via contaminated food and poor sanitation. It does affect the liver but temporarily and recovers in time. Type B is almost always near fatal, though the disease may take years before becoming serious. It is transmitted via infected blood, body fluids (not saliva and perspiration) and needles.
Drug addicts are at great risk as are those receiving unscreened blood transfusions. Once infected, the patient is never free of it.

AIDS, Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome is caused by the HIV virus which was first discovered in 1983. It is transmitted via blood and body fluids (not saliva and perspiration) from infected mother to unborn child and contaminated needles. The virus destroys the immune system, leaving the body susceptible to potentially final infections like pneumonia. Groups t high risks are homosexual and bisexuals, those receiving infected blood transfusions, from infected mother to unborn child, prostitutes and drug addicts who share needless. A UN report of 1999 estimates 34.3 million infected by HIV, 5.4 million of those developed AIDS. Of the total HIV infected patients 1.3% is children less than 15 years of age. Since its emergence 2 decades ago, AIDS has already killed 18.8 million people, including 3.8 million children less than 15 years of age. The Sub – Saharan region is the worst affected with 24.5 million infected with the HIV virus, followed by 5.4 million in South and South East Asia. Also according to this report, 16 African countries have more than one tenth of their population aged 15 – 49 infected by the HIV virus.

These facts and figures present a sorry and alarming story of the human struggle against diseases. It’s concluded that the world’s health organizations should now raise and act upon the slogan “Prevention is better than cure”.