Question

Review the CDC website for information about different type of diseases and infections and how they are classified.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/default.htm

List 3 different types of diseases or infections you find and the morbidity rates associated with each disease or infection. Also, briefly discuss what you found interesting or surprising about the infection rates from the diseases you choose. (Note that this website also contains health topics that are not diseases such as exercise physical activity, home health care, and marriage. Please pick a real disease for your discussion).

Answer 1

1. Cancer

Morbidity: - Numbers of adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer: 22.9 million

                                 : - Percent of adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer: 9.4%

Cancer being serious disease growing at a fast pace in human race with its vast variety can also increase the risk of getting a serious infection. The risk of infections depends on the type of cancer one has and the treatment he/she are getting. For example, surgery does not weaken a person’s resistance to infection nearly as much as a bone marrow transplant. And some chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer are less likely than others to affect a person’s ability to resist infection. Infections that are developed in people who have cancer or who are getting cancer treatment can be more serious than those in people who are otherwise healthy. Such infections are much harder to treat in comparison.

2. HIV/AIDS

Morbidity:- Number of HIV diagnoses: 39,782 (2016)

HIV/AIDS itself is a result of an infection. It weakens your body's immune system and destroys the white blood cells that fight infection resulting at the risk for opportunistic infections (OIs). These infections are less common and less severe in healthy people. There are many types of Ols including Bacterial infections, Fungal infections, Parasitic Infections and Viral infections. Having HIV/AIDS can make infections harder to treat. People with HIV/AIDS are also more likely to have complications from common illnesses such as the flu.

3. Diabetes

Morbidity: - Adults aged 20 or above

: -Percent with diabetes (physician-diagnosed or undiagnosed): 12.6% (2011-2014)

: -Percent with physician-diagnosed diabetes: 9.6% (2011-2014)

: -Percent with undiagnosed diabetes: 3.0% (2011-2014)

People diagnosed with diabetes are more susceptible to developing infections, because the high blood sugar levels can weaken the patient's immune system defenses. Also, some diabetes-related health issues, such as nerve damage and reduced blood flow to the extremities, increase the body's vulnerability to many infections. The diabetic patients are especially prone to foot infections, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and surgical site infections. Also, diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) causes problems like some with sensations, particularly in the feet. This lack of sensations sometimes means foot injuries go unnoticed and thus, untreated injuries can lead to infection.