Chronic diseases refer to those that are persistent and long lasting and that may develop slowly rather than rapidly, such as acute diseases. Communicable diseases, also known as infectious diseases, are those that can be acquired from humans and animals through blood, food, air, water, saliva and other forms of contact. There are many chronic diseases that are not acquired through infection, but rather through lifestyle, such as lung cancer or heart disease. There are also many communicable diseases that are well known that are not necessarily chronic, such as the common cold or the flu. Diseases that qualify as both chronic and communicable take a special stage in medicine due to their pervasive nature in hospital costs and treatment options. Three diseases that are both chronic and communicable are HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C.
HIV
HIV is the acronym for the the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is a slow-acting virus that spreads from person to person through blood-to-blood contact such as during sexual intercourse and in the sharing of drug syringes. Historically, the virus was also passed on to people during blood transfusions, but this type of exposure is nearly nonexistent in current medical procedures. The virus attacks the immune system by depleting the overall white blood cell count. On average, within about 10 to 15 years, the person infected with HIV can develop a failing and compromised immune system in which opportunistic diseases will move in. According to the 2006 Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, from its discovery in 1981 through 2006, HIV has killed more than 26 million people worldwide. There is no vaccine or cure for HIV, and currently there are around 38 million people infected worldwide. Current treatments are effective at slowing the replication of the virus.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that is spread from person to person through airborne transmission such as sneezing, coughing and spitting. The most common symptoms include chronic cough with accompanied blood, fever, night sweats and weight loss. One-third of the world's population is thought to be infected with the tuberculosis bacteria, but only 10 percent of those infected ever show any significant symptoms. The World Health Organization's report on the Burden of Disease states that in 2004 there were around 14 million active cases of tuberculosis, while the Americas only had around half a million. It is most common in areas where high population density and poor air flow are combined. The vaccine for tuberculosis is the most widely used vaccine worldwide. The treatment for tuberculosis involves highly selective strains of antibiotics due to the complexity of the bacterial walls.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver and can eventually lead to significant scarring, leading to liver failure. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, itching, jaundice, sleep disturbances, depression and weight loss. There are an estimated 300 million people worldwide infected with hepatitis C. It is passed from human to human through blood contact, primarily through needle sharing, less often through contact sports or blood contact at a hospital or dentist's office, and rarely through sexual intercourse. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms for many years while the virus continues to grow and damage the liver. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The current treatment options are promising, with recovery rates as high as 80 percent, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
References
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS: Cummulative Death Toll
- 2008 Update World Health Organization: The Burden of Disease, Incidence and Prevalence
- 2008 Update World Health Organization: The Burden of Disease, Causes of Death
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Chronic Hepatitis C--Current Disease Management
