Unfortunately, there are many deadly diseases, or diseases for which scientists still have no cure. Some of these diseases affect adults, while others affect children. They affect different parts of the body, including the nerves and skeletal muscles, eyes, lungs and brain. The life expectancy can be only 5 years, or as short as a mere 10 days.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also goes by the name of Lou Gehrig's disease, as a remembrance of the Yankee ballplayer who had this disorder. In this disease, all the nerves that send signals to the muscles degenerate. At first, people will be weak in just one group of muscles. This develops to a weakness and paralysis in all of the skeletal muscles, or the muscles they use for movement. They will become almost totally paralyzed, but will still be able to make some facial movements. People usually start to have symptoms in their 40's or 50's. It is a very deadly disease, as patients usually die within 5 years, according to Elizabeth Corwin, Ph.D. in "Handbook of Pathophysiology."
Ataxia-Telangiectasia
This hereditary disease causes a mutation of an enzyme that is needed to repair DNA. Enzymes are proteins that the body uses to speed up the time different processes will take. As a result of the mutation, children will develop ataxia by the time they are 5 years old. Ataxia is a lack of coordination and stability. They will then develop telangiectasia, or enlarged blood vessels, in the eyes as well as the shoulders, ears and nose. Lora Stewart, M.D., Associate Physician at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center writes in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics" that they will also have low levels of antibodies, which they need to fight infections. This will lead to frequent and reoccurring respiratory infections, and this is one of the most common causes of death, which may occur as early as the age of 30.
Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis
Meningoencephalitis means the inflammation of the meninges and the brain. The meninges is the membrane that covers the brain. In "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals," Richard Pearson, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Pathology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, writes about this deadly disease. It is caused by an ameba called Naegleria fowleri. This organism can get into the nose of swimmers while they are in fresh water, and enter the brain. People will have symptoms within 2 weeks. They will usually have a headache, high fever, nausea and mental confusion. Most people are dead in 10 days.
Glioblastoma Multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common primary brain tumor, or tumor that originates within the brain. It is also the most malignant brain tumor, involving brain cells that are not nerve cells. Most people with a glioblastoma are in their 50's. Their symptoms may include headache, seizures and paralysis on one side of their body. Even though a lot of research has been done over the past 20 years, the survival rate is still about the same, according to Sigmund Hsu, M.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in the "MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology." Most people will only live for 9 to 14 months. Just three percent will survive for 5 years.
References
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics"; William Hay, Jr., M.D., Myron Levin, M.D., Judith Sondheimer, M.D., Robin Deterding, M.D.; 2009
- "Handbook of Pathophysiology"; Elizabeth Corwin, MSN, Ph.D., FNP; 2000
- "MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology"; Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., Robert Wolff, M.D., Charles Koller, M.D.; 2006
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Free-Living Amebas
