Ancient, Yet Still Alive Diseases

A 4,000 year old man was discovered with leprosy.

The remains of a man over 4,000 years old was discovered with leprosy, this pushed back the estimated date of when leprosy began appearing. There have been several Old Kingdom mummies discovered dating from 2400 B.C.E. showing signs of having tuberculosis. There are hieroglyphics that show signs of an individual having polio. Three of some of the world’s oldest diseases still are alive today. With the technology and knowledge that the world has obtained in the last thousand years these diseases should have been eradicated, yet they are being given the chance to evolve with mankind and come back stronger.

Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease or HD)

A persistent disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae and Mycobacterium Lepromatosis. It primarily damage nerves, mucosa –mucous membrane– of the upper respiratory tract, and skin damage. Divergent to common belief it is not highly infectious and it doesn’t cause body parts to fall off, though they can become numb or infected. The transmission of the disease is still being questioned and discussed, but some researchers believe that the bacterium is transmitted through mucus droplets and that a person has to have been around an infected person for a long period of time.

Prevention:

A man found in Arkansas with leprosy.

A dose of rifampicin can aid in lowering the risks, as well as BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) can offer protection against leprosy and tuberculosis. Surgery to aid in the movements of limps can add help. Educating people that by having leprosy that they are not “unclean” and should seek medical help and not avoid getting medical attention.

Drug-Resistant TB in South Africa

Tubercles Bacillus (Tuberculosis or TB)

A common and fatal infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It is passed from person to person by airborne droplets due to coughing, sneezing, or spitting. The bacterium is then inhaled into the lungs and multiplies itself to form an infected center. Hispanics, Haitians, and immigrants from Southeast Asia are at higher risk of developing the disease, along with the elderly, deprived city areas, people with immunodeficiency disorders, diabetes, alcoholics, and people who have come into contact or live with someone with tuberculosis. Chance are further increased when someone malnourished and by other diseases. The disease can lay dormant in a person for a period of time till it is activated.

Prevention:

Left image is an x-ray of healthy lungs and image on the right is of lungs with tuberculosis.

Top 22 countries with TB

There are two primary preventative methods, one being a BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine is an option for high risk groups and second is contact tracing. With contact tracing friends and family of a TB victim or an average Joe/Jane can go in to be examined, X-rayed, and given a tuberculin skin test (TST). These usually catch TB in an early stage and reduce the risk. The TST is an injection that the doctor or a clinic can administer under the skin and if you come back and there bump has gone down and nothing is inflamed then you are not required to get an x-ray unless advised by a medical professional. Anyone that lives or can come into contact with a TB individual is given an anti-tuberculosis antibiotic drug to try to be on the safe side.

Poliomyelitis (Polio or Infantile paralysis)

There is not a continuing carrier for the polio-virus in safe proficient people, nor does it seem to affect non-primates in nature, but the virus’ endurance for a long period of time in an area that has the resources to eradicate it is rare. Polio is highly contagious through person to person. The virus releases a large number of specks that end up in feces, where it can either directly or indirectly contaminate food or water, and then be transferred by people’s fingers to their mouths.  Airborne spreading can occur. In areas where the hygiene standards are low, children can easily become infected and sometimes develop resistance to the disease and then the effects can be lowered. In countries with better standards the children might not develop resistance to the disease and without vaccinations horrendous outbreaks can occur.

Polio Vaccine of Choice

Prevention:

There are two different types, usually given during infancy. A shot or an OPV (oral polio vaccine), the OPV is the vaccine of choice due to it being inexpensive, easy to give, and produces exceptional immunity in the intestines. Immunity in the intestines helps prevent with the wild virus widespread in developing nations it is located in. There is still not yet a cure for polio.

“Polio remains endemic in six countries in the world (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Niger, and Afghanistan).” (Haider 276)

If the number of countries that have polio widespread narrowed down to six, then why have people not taken the next step and try to eradicate polio entirely?

Red Blood Cells infected with Malaria

Malaria

A parasitic disease caused by a female Anopheles mosquito bite. The parasites that cause malaria are single-celled organisms called plasmodia that invade body cells. There are four different species that malaria in humans: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae. P.falciparum is the most common and most difficult in treating. The parasite will live out partially in its human host and in the mosquito. The parasite will try to avoid detection from the immune systems in the liver and RBCs (red blood cells).

Prevention:

Man spraying for Malaria carrying Mosquitoes

Malaria prophylaxis is one of the preventatives for malaria that can be used. Being aware of the risks involving mosquito bites and attempting bite prevention can go a long way in protecting against malaria and eradication mosquitoes altogether. The use of LLINs (long-lasting insecticidal bednets) can aid in protecting a person for as low as 60 cents a year, and not only protect a person, but the neighborhood as well. The nets work in three effective ways: within a few minutes it kills mosquitoes, repels mosquitoes, and creates a barricade from biting mosquitoes.

Malaria victims in India

Unlike already developed nations, like United States and England, developing nations in Africa, India, South America, and in the Middle East are unable to achieve certain methods to combat or prevent illnesses like Malaria. In America –more precisely Florida and tropical regions– getting rid of stagnant water can also lower the malaria-carrying mosquito population by destroying potential breeding grounds. In some poorer places they can’t afford to toss or get rid of any water that they can get. Insecticide spraying trucks drive around some of the more mosquito loving environments at night to keep the population down as well, but some countries cannot afford once again to have something like this. Besides the insecticide can cause cancer, respiratory damage, and eye problems to anyone that decides a nice mosquito free bike ride behind the truck inside the insecticides’ fog would be a good idea.

Kenyan Scientists