There are many diseases that are dangerous to mankind. Whether they are incurable, chronically lethal or acutely deadly, certain illnesses have dire affects when humans are infected. Viruses, bacteria, genetic abnormalities or even simple proteins can be the cause of the most dangerous diseases. No matter the cause, these serious diseases can threaten the lives and well-being of those afflicted.
Lung Cancer
The most dangerous type of cancer is lung cancer. Lung cancer kills more men and women in a year than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined, according to MedlinePlus, a National Institutes of Health website. Lung cancer is rare in adults younger than 45, but 60 percent of patients who develop the cancer die within one year of diagnosis. The cancer begins in the lungs and can be composed of either non-small cells or small cells. Non-small cell cancer is the most common cancer, while small cell cancer composes 20 percent of all cases of lung cancer.
The most common cause of cancer is smoking. The more frequent a person smokes the higher the risk of developing cancer. Non-smokers, however, can also be affected. Approximately 3,000 non-smokers will develop lung cancer due to exposure to secondhand smoke. Early diagnosis can allow for more timely treatment and removal of the tumor, but if the cancer has already spread to other organs or is in an advanced stage, the patient will most likely not survive.
HIV and AIDS
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, infection is one of the most feared and deadly viral diseases affecting the modern world. The virus infects special cells in the human body that are critical in protecting the patient from infections. HIV destroys the immune system. The initial stages of the disease do not present with any dire symptoms, but in the final stages of HIV infection the patient develops acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AIDS signifies a severe drop in the cells of the patient’s immune system. Once AIDS develops, patients will be unable to fight off infections and will quickly succumb to debilitating complications. AIDS and HIV medications attempt to prevent the spread and reproduction of the virus within the patient. The treatment, however, does not cure the disease. Furthermore, HIV can be undetectable until late stages and therefore infected individuals can unknowingly spread the disease during sexual encounters.
Hemorrhagic Fevers
Hemorrhagic fevers are illness characterized by high fever, severe bleeding, or hemorrhage, organ failure, and possibly death. The Ebola and Marburg viruses are the most common causes of this disease, according to MayoClinic.com. These two viruses usually live in animal hosts and then spread to humans who come into contact with infected body fluids, such as blood. The virus can spread from person-to-person through contact with contaminated body fluids or unsterile needles. There is no effective treatment for hemorrhagic fevers caused by the Ebola or Marburg viruses. Physicians can only provide supportive therapy and hope that the patient’s immune system can fight off the disease. If the immune system fails, then death occurs within 10 days of the initial manifestation of symptoms.
Mad Cow Disease
Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, commonly known as mad cow disease, is a neurological disease than transfers from animals to mankind, reports the World Health Organization. An abnormal simple protein, called a prion, causes the disease Usually, a patient is infected when exposed to contaminated food containing the prion. The disease affects the nerves and brain tissue. The disease can take years to manifest symptoms. Patients are usually unaware of the disease until symptoms begin to manifest. Symptoms may develop 10 years after initial infection. Confusion, memory problems and learning difficulties are common symptoms. The prion destroys brain tissue and makes the organ resemble a sponge. There is no treatment for the disease, and prion diseases are invariably fatal.
