Do you know what are the top 3 deadliest diseases in the world? Do you know that some diseases can take your life in just a few days? And some diseases might already be inside you, but you don’t even notice any signs!Most 3 Infectious Deadliest Diseases in the World :- Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB)Place of Malaria: Why Malaria is 3rd most deadly diseaseIn the year 2020, 241 million malaria cases were reported, out of which 627,000 deaths occurred.Malaria is caused by a type of parasite and spreads through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. If you have ever visited Sub-Saharan regions or tropical areas, you might know a lot about malaria.94% of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, and it affects not only adults but also children under the age of 5.Still have questions about diseases ? Gettrustworthy answers from verified sources onAsk Medwiki.Why HIV/AIDS at 2nd place took 32 million lives?HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a deadly virus that attacks your immune system. If not treated on time, it can turn into AIDS.HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue, which has affected 75 million people worldwide and has been responsible for nearly 32 million deaths.In the year 2022 alone, 0.63 million deaths were caused by HIV/AIDS, mainly affecting people between the ages of 15 and 59.Why Tuberculosis TB at Fist place as Deadliest Infectious Disease?Tuberculosis, or TB, is a disease caused by the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria, which primarily affects the lungs. TB can also occur in other parts of the body, which is called extrapulmonary TB.In 2010, around 10 million people got TB, and nearly 1.5 million people died because of it. In 2022, after COVID-related deaths, TB caused the most deaths, with around 1.3 million people losing their lives.In all three diseases, immunity is so severely damaged that it doesn’t naturally recover, which leads to a higher death rate. However, by staying aware and educating people about prevention, these diseases can be prevented and treated.Source:- 1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death 2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34530712/

Chikungunya, a water Borne disease is spread by mosquitoes, mostly Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus, which can also transmit dengue and Zika viruses.Symptoms of Chikungunya: Symptoms usually begin within the range of 2-12 days of mosquito bite. Abrupt onset of fever accompanied by joint pain which may last from a few days to even years. Joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rashes on the skin are also some other symptoms. Occasional cases of eye, heart, and neurological complications have also been seen.How to prevent Chikungunya: Avoiding mosquito bites is the only best protection. Empty and clean the water containers on a weekly basis and dispose of waste properly so as to reduce the chances of mosquito breeding. Apply insecticides to the surface of the containers (in and around). Wear clothes that cover as much of your body as possible, use mosquito nets, close the window and door screens, apply repellants (DEET, IR3535 or icaridin) to exposed skins or clothings.Treatment of Chikungunya: Clinical management includes addressing fever and joint pain with anti-pyretics and optimal analgesics, drinking plenty of fluids and taking rest. There is no specific antiviral drug for the treatment for this. Paracetamol or acetaminophen are recommended for pain relief and reducing fever till dengue infections are ruled out.Source:-https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chikungunya

Malaria, a water Borne disease is a life-threatening disease spread by some types of infected female mosquitoes (Anopheles mosquitoes) to humans. However, blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria.Symptoms of Malaria: Symptoms usually begin after 10-15 days of mosquito bite. Symptoms can vary from mild or even life-threatening. Mild symptoms include fever, chills and headache whereas severe symptoms include fatigue, seizures, confusion, dark or bloody urine, jaundice and difficulty in breathing.How to prevent Malaria: Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and with medications. Timely treatment can stop mild cases from getting worse. Consult your doctor for taking medicine such as chemoprophylaxis before traveling to areas where malaria is common.Wear clothes that cover as much of your body as possible, use mosquito nets while sleeping, use mosquito repellants (containing DEET, Icaridin or IR3535), use coils and vaporizers and use window screens at all times.Treatment of Malaria: Multiple medicines are used to prevent and treat malaria. Your doctor will choose for you based on:Type of malariaWhether a malaria parasite is resistant to a medicineThe weight or age of the person infected with malariaWhether the person is pregnant.Some most common medicines of Malaria are:Artemisinin:-based combination therapy medicines: Effective in treatment for P. falciparum malaria.Chloroquine: Effective in treatment of infection with the P. vivax parasite only in places where it is still sensitive to this medicine.Primaquine: Is added to the main treatment to prevent relapse of infection with the P. vivax and P. ovale parasites.Most medicines used are in pill form. Some people may need to go to a hospital for certain injections.source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria

Let us here discuss different Water borne diseases that can range from being mild to even fatal.Let’s first know the symptoms, prevention and possible treatment for Dengue:Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) to humans which breeds mainly in water collections in artificial containers.Symptoms of Dengue: Severe headache, high fever (usually around 104°F), muscle and joint pain, vomiting, rashes or bruises on the skin and pain behind the eyes are some common symptoms.How to prevent Dengue: There is no vaccine for this disease. The mosquitoes that spread dengue are active during the day time. You must wear clothes that cover as much of your body as possible, use mosquito nets while sleeping during the day, use mosquito repellants (containing DEET, Picaridin or IR3535), use coils and vaporizers and use window screens at all timesCover, empty and clean the water storage containers on a weekly basis, dispose solid waste properly, do not let any stagnant water ponds or containers in the community, as mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, apply appropriate insecticides to outdoor water storage containers, if any.Treatment of Dengue: Though there is no specific treatment for dengue, the focus is on symptomatic treatment only. Paracetamol is often used to control pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin are avoided, as they increase the risk of bleeding. Though in some severe cases, hospitalization is also needed.Source:- 1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue

After the monkeypox outbreak in 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to bring together experts to determine if this spread is more dangerous and whether it should be declared an international emergency, as it has affected more than 10 African countries.Monkeypox, also known as mpox, is a viral zoonotic disease that spreads from animals to humans. It is caused by the monkeypox virus. Historically, it was found in Central Africa and West Africa. The first human case of monkeypox was a nine-month-old baby from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa.Monkeypox is usually a mild illness that can recover in 2-4 weeks. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, fatigue, and a rash with pimples and blisters that can appear on various parts of the body, including the face, palms, and groin area, and can be painful.It is transmitted through:Close contact, such as kissing, touching, or sexual contact with infected individuals.Body fluids, such as droplets from sneezing or coughing.Infected animals, especially during hunting or cooking.Contaminated towels, clothes, or bedding.It can also be transmitted from mother to unborn baby through the placenta.People with weak immune systems and those with multiple sex partners or who are sex workers are at higher risk of contracting monkeypox.The diagnosis of monkeypox is typically done using a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, where swabs are taken from body fluids or skin. Getting the mpox vaccine within 4 days of exposure to an infected person can help prevent the disease.Prevention measures include:Washing hands frequently with soap and water.Avoiding close contact with infected individuals.Wearing masks and avoiding touching surfaces without disinfecting them.If you experience symptoms of monkeypox, consult a doctor to prevent further complications.Source:- 1.https://www.health.gov.au/diseases/monkeypox-mpox 2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox

Nipah Virus Alert in Kerala:On July 21, 2024, a 14-year-old boy in Kerala died from Nipah virus.Kerala's health minister issued a high alert throughout the state.About Nipah Virus:Nipah virus is a zoonotic virus, meaning it spreads from animals (like bats or pigs) to humans.First identified in pig farmers in Malaysia in 1999.Cases have also been reported in Singapore, Bangladesh, and India.Transmission:Through direct contact with infected animals.Consuming fruits contaminated by fruit bats.Direct contact with an infected person.Signs and Symptoms:Initial Symptoms: Fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, vomiting.Progressive Symptoms: Dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty focusing.Severe Symptoms (within 24-48 hours): Pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, encephalitis (brain swelling), seizures leading to coma.Incubation Period:4-14 days.Diagnosis:RT-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) or ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) tests on body fluids.Treatment and Prevention:No specific treatment or vaccine available.Severe cases require intensive supportive care.WHO Research and Development Blueprint has identified Nipah virus as a priority disease.Preventive measures:Clean and disinfect pig farms.Wash hands with soap and water.Prevent the movement of infected animals.Source:-1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570576/2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/nipah-virus

Nearly 1000 cases of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) has been reported by June 2024, in Japan. This infection has drawn most attention after COVID 19.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flesh eating bacteria are Group A Streptococcus(GAS) bacteria, mostly found in the throat, that usually cause sore throat and skin infections.STSS is caused when the GAS bacteria enters the body areas where bacteria are rarely found such as deep muscles and blood.Who is at risk of getting STSS?- People who are above age 65- Who recently had surgery- Who have had chickenpox, shingles, recently- Who has diabetes, and open wounds or sores- And people who drink alcohol regularlyWhat are symptoms of STSS?It starts with fever, chills, rashes, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting.It usually gets well initially and then causes acute illness which leads to low blood pressure in 24-48 hours and organ failure with increased heart rate.How is STSS treated?STSS is treated with antibiotics and intravenous fluids and other treatment options for organ failure and surgery to remove infected tissue.Source:-1. Davies H. D. (2001). Flesh-eating disease: A note on necrotizing fasciitis. The Canadian journal of infectious diseases = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses, 12(3), 136–140. https://doi.org/10.1155/2001/8571952. Dennis L. Stevens, The Flesh-Eating Bacterium: What's Next?, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 179, Issue Supplement_2, March 1999, Pages S366–S374, https://doi.org/10.1086/513851

Cancer stands to be the 2nd leading cause of death globally. About 20 million new cases of cancer and 9.7 million deaths due to cancer were reported in 2022.Cancer generally refers to uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that destroys the normal cells and can spread in the whole body.Here are 7 early signs that your body indicates when you have Cancer:1. Rapid and Uncontrolled Weight Loss:You might experience a sudden and rapid weight loss of more than 5 kgs in a month, without doing and exercise or workout.Weight loss is not just a sign of cancer, but it can also happen due to other disease like diabetes, thyroid disorders, etc.2. Changes in Skin Appearance:Your skin may look yellow, or get red or dark in colour, develop warts, moles that gets larger, and pigmentation or discoloration as a sign of cancer.It may also feel tight, warm and itchy due to changes occurring inside the body due to increased growth of cancer cells.3. Formation of Lumps Under Skin:You might notice lumps in your breasts, or thickening of tissues under the skinThe lumps can be felt easily, if you examine your breast regularly.4. Flatulence:Flatulence or farts accompanied with pain and discomfort in stomach and last for longer period of time, and it is not caused by indigestion or any gastrointestinal issues or menstruation than, it could be a sign of cancer.5. Wounds that don't heal:If you get a cut or any wound, on your body or including the tongue, gums or cheeks which is taking a longer time to heal,Then it might indicate the sign of cancer. Because whole body starts working to fight off cancer cells and keeping such wounds as minor problems.6. Change in urine and stool:You might notice changes in urine color, smell, or find blood in urine and feel urgency to pee frequently and pain during urination. You might feel constipated or get diarrhea more often, then these can also be indicative signs of cancer.7. Fatigue:You may feel tired all the time without even doing any activities, it may also be a sign of cancer. It happens because all of the energy and nutrients we get from our food is taken by the cancer cells for their growth and we don't feel energized.Remember, these are the signs that may indicate sign of cancer but it can also be caused due to other diseases. So, it's better to get diagnosed your doctor for early treatment.Source:-1. Cancer Statistics - NCI. (n.d.). Cancer Statistics - NCI. Retrieved May 16, 2024, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics2. Symptoms of Cancer - NCI. (2024, May 16). Symptoms of Cancer - NCI. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/symptoms3. Scheel, B. I., & Holtedahl, K. (2015). Symptoms, signs, and tests: The general practitioner's comprehensive approach towards a cancer diagnosis. Scandinavian journal of primary health care, 33(3), 170–177. https://doi.org/10.3109/02813432.2015.1067512