Medical diseases have existed since ancient times, and you’ve probably read about the horrors of the Bubonic Plague in history class, but did you know that the plague technically still exists in modern times?
Over time, modern medicine has eradicated some of the most devastating diseases in the United States. smallpoxpolio, rubella, malaria, and diphtheria. However, diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and mumps continue to exist today. You might be surprised to learn that the following five diseases still exist today, but we have made great strides in treating them.
1. Leprosy
Mycobacterium leprae (Photo by Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock)
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 225 Americans are diagnosed with leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, each year. Mycobacterium leprae It causes leprosy, a bacterial infection that primarily affects the nerves and skin. It can cause skin discolouration, nodules and a burning sensation, and can be disfiguring if left untreated. Numbness can also occur, usually in the hands and feet.
In the past, leprosy patients Isolated in a colony The fear that it was easily transmitted caused the disease to become popular. However, it was later discovered that it can only be spread by prolonged, close contact with an infected person. Another way it can be spread is by: From Armadillo to HumanMost people are immune to leprosy, and there is effective antibiotic treatment for those who are infected.
read more: Leprosy cases on the rise in the United States
2. Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Credit: nobeastsofierce/Shutterstock)
Tuberculosis dates back 9,000 years, but kills more than 1 million people worldwide each year. In 2022, about 8,000 people will be diagnosed with tuberculosis in the United States, and another 13 million will die. Latent tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis The disease causes tuberculosis, whose symptoms include coughing, chest pain, fever, loss of appetite, etc. TB is spread by inhaling droplets released when an infected person coughs or talks.
There are two types of tuberculosis testing: skin tests and blood tests. If an active case of tuberculosis is found: Treatment planning Antibiotics are usually given for several months.
read more: What is the drug bedaquiline and why is it important for people with tuberculosis?
3. Mumps
Paramyxovirus (Photo: Corona Borealis Studio/Shutterstock)
Viruses Paramyxoviridae Mumps is caused by this family, and although the disease still exists today, cases have declined by 99 percent since the mumps vaccine program began in the late 1960s.
Mumps takes 2-3 weeks for symptoms to appear, including a swollen or sore jaw, swollen cheeks, fatigue, weight loss, and fever. Mumps spreads through respiratory droplets and saliva. It can also be spread by sneezing, talking, or coughing. It can also be spread by sharing eating utensils or drinking from the same cup as an infected person.
There is no cure for mumps, but process Treatment usually involves rest, fluids, and pain relief. Symptoms usually subside in about five days.
read more: 6 Respiratory Diseases That Can Cause Lung Problems
4. Whooping cough
Bordetella pertussis (Photo by Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock)
There are more 10,000 results Whooping cough affects more than 10,000 people in the United States each year. Whooping cough is a bacterial disease, also called pertussis, after the bacterium. Bordetella pertussis It affects the lungs and airways.
The most noticeable symptom is a severe, forceful cough that eventually turns into a gasp and makes a “whistling” sound. Not everyone with whooping cough makes the characteristic whistling sound. Other symptoms include a runny nose, fever and nasal congestion.
Treatment includes antibiotics and a vaccine, but it’s possible to get whooping cough even if you’ve been vaccinated. In this case, the symptoms are usually milder.
read more: Why does the virus become more active in winter?
5. Plague: The Black Death
(Credit: Michael Taylor/Shutterstock)
Bacteria are Plague bacillus, Causes the plague, Two formats Plague can be called bubonic or pneumonic. Bubonic plague is the most common. The Black Death killed about 25 million people in Europe during the Middle Ages and now affects about 5 to 15 people in the United States each year.
Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpits and neck, high fever, chills and muscle cramps. Plague can be spread by infected fleas on pets and wild animals.
If plague is suspected, people are usually admitted to hospital and immediately treated with antibiotics. They may be isolated. Supportive measures include intravenous fluids, oxygen, and respiratory support. Plague is life-threatening and Potential Biological Weapons.
read more: Scientists Uncover Origins of the Black Death
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Allison Futerman is a writer based in Charlotte, North Carolina whose science, history, and medical/health articles have appeared on a variety of platforms and in local and national publications, including Charlotte, People, Our State, and Philanthropy. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in criminal justice.
