Types of diseases

Malaria is one of the most serious diseases in tropical countries including Tanzania.

Malaria is transmitted by a female mosquito called Anopheles. The mosquito carries a parasite called Plasmodium. Malaria occurs when the mosquito bites a person and thereby injects Plasmodium parasites. The mosquito can also transmit the parasites from one person to another after a few days during which a parasite develops inside the mosquito.

The symptoms of malaria include

1. fever
2. headache
3. nausea
4. stomach upset
5. vomiting
6. sweating
7. feeling cold and
8. shivering

Other symptoms are loss of appetite, joint pains and fatigue.

1. Destroying Breeding Sites: Eliminating mosquito breeding sites is crucial. This can be done by draining stagnant water from areas like flower pots, ponds, and ditches. For areas that cannot be drained, spraying oil or other treatments can kill mosquito larvae before they mature into adult mosquitoes.
2. Preventing Exposure: Using mosquito nets, especially those treated with insecticides, can greatly reduce the risk of being bitten while sleeping. Installing screens on windows and doors helps to keep mosquitoes from entering homes. Additionally, applying mosquito repellents on exposed skin and using insecticides indoors can further reduce exposure.
3. Treatment: Timely treatment of malaria is essential to reduce the severity of the disease and prevent complications. There are several antimalarial drugs available, but they must be taken according to a doctor's prescription to be effective. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, and antimalarial drugs help protect both the mother and the unborn child.

Malaria transmission cycle

Cholera is an infectious disease that is caused by bacteria. The bacteria cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting leading to serious body dehydration and even death.

Cholera occurs when a person is infected by cholera bacteria. The bacteria can be ingested with food or water contaminated by faeces or vomit of infected individuals. Cholera can also be transmitted by houseflies when they pick cholera bacteria from waste and contaminated food and water. Contact with an infected or cholera dead individual can also lead to the transmission of the disease.

1. Watery Diarrhea: The hallmark symptom of cholera is profuse, watery diarrhea that resembles "rice-water," which is a pale, cloudy, and sometimes slightly milky fluid. This happens as the bacteria produce toxins that cause the intestines to release large amounts of water.
2. Vomiting: Persistent vomiting is common and can occur shortly after the onset of diarrhea. This further contributes to dehydration.
3. Dehydration: Due to the loss of large amounts of fluid, the person becomes severely dehydrated. This can lead to weakness, dry mouth, decreased urine output, and sunken eyes.
4. Rapid Heartbeat and Low Blood Pressure: Dehydration causes a decrease in blood volume, leading to a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) and low blood pressure (hypotension). These symptoms are signs of shock, which can be fatal if not treated.
5. Thirst: The body's response to dehydration is intense thirst, as it attempts to replace the lost fluids.
6. Loose Skin and Leg Cramps: The loss of electrolytes, particularly sodium, potassium, and chloride, can lead to muscle cramps, especially in the legs. The skin may also lose its elasticity, and it may remain pinched or "tent-like" when pulled up.

Cholera can be controlled by

1. practicing good hygiene such as cleaning the environment, drinking clean and safe water, eating fresh and safe food, proper use of toilets, and washing hands with clean water and soap before eating and after using the toilet.
2. A person with cholera should be taken to hospital immediately to avoid further spread.
3. The disease can be prevented by keeping infected individuals away from others to avoid further spreading of the disease.

Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by parasitic worms. The worms affect the intestines and the urinary bladder. The worms live in blood vessels of these organs, but they can affect other parts of the body such as the lungs, liver, spleen, spinal cord and brain.

The parasitic worm is transmitted by vectors known as snails. People become infected when they come in contact with water contaminated by the parasites from the snails. The parasites are released by snails and penetrate the skin of a person when he or she is in contact with contaminated water. Fresh water bodies such as lakes, rivers, ponds and ditches may be infested with parasites when people with the disease urinate or defaecate in them. Contact with infested water may occur during swimming, washing or paddling, fishing, fetching water and bathing in water bodies.

Symptoms of schistosomiasis include

1. presence of blood in urine or faeces
2. feeling of pain when urinating
3. abdominal pain
4. intestinal ulcers
5. body weakness
6. fever and anaemia

1. Avoid urinating and defaecating near water sources or in water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and pools. Also, avoid swimming, washing clothes, bathing and washing dishes using contaminated or untreated water.
2. Schistosomiasis can be treated with drugs. Therefore, an infected person should be taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease caused by bacteria. It usually affects the lungs.

The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are transmitted from one person to another through the air during coughing, sneezing and spitting of saliva. People become infected by inhaling contaminated air or using contaminated dishes.

The major symptoms include

1. coughing for three or more weeks
2. fever
3. weight loss, and
4. chest pain

Other symptoms are coughing up blood, chills, tiredness, sweating at night and loss of appetite.

1. Tuberculosis can be prevented by vaccination. New born babies are usually vaccinated against tuberculosis.
2. Also the disease can be prevented by treating infected people early to avoid spreading of the disease.
3. Avoiding sharing utensils with infected people.

Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It commonly affects children and usually infects the nose and throat. The measles virus can be transmitted through coughing and sneezing. The disease spreads quickly in crowded areas.

An individual infected with measles has a high fever and running nose. Other symptoms include sneezing and a dry hacking cough, red-watery eyes, swollen eye lids, white spots inside the mouth and body pain. Also, a person infected with measles develops red rashes on the forehead which can spread down to other parts of the body. Other symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea.

A child suffering from measles

There is no treatment for measles. However prevention can be achieved by giving vaccines to children.

Chickenpox is an airborne disease that is caused by viruses. The disease is transmitted through the air which is contaminated with the virus. The virus spreads through inhaling contaminated air when an infected person has sneezed or coughed. Also, the virus can spread through direct contact with the sores or wounds of an infected person. It can also be spread by touching contaminated items such as clothing of an infected person.

1. A person with chickenpox develops high fever and headache.
2. Also the person becomes tired with loss of appetite.
3. Other symptoms are development of itching, skin rashes and fluid filled blisters. The rashes show up on the cheek, the back and sometimes the entire body. The rashes finally leave scars after the person is healed.

A person infected with chicken pox

There is no treatment for chickenpox. However, symptoms of chickenpox can be alleviated. Vaccines are also available to prevent chickenpox. Chickenpox can also be controlled by

1. avoiding sharing clothes, towels and bed sheets with an infected person.
2. Use a household cleaner to wash any items that are contaminated with chickenpox blisters.
3. An infected person should be kept away from others to prevent the spreading of the disease.

Tetanus is a disease caused by bacteria. The tetanus bacteria can be found in soil, dust, dirt and animal faeces. Bacteria may also be found on surfaces of rusty tools like nails, needles and barbed wire. A person becomes infected with tetanus when bacteria enter the blood stream through a deep wound, cut or bruise.

1. Tetanus causes high fever, headache and tightening of the jaw muscles which lead to difficult swallowing and breathing.

Other symptoms are prolonged

1. muscle contraction
2. painful and stiff muscles of the neck and abdomen
3. seizures
4. high blood pressure and sweating

Tetanus vaccines are available for children.

1. Vaccination and proper wound care are important for preventing tetanus infections.
2. Tetanus vaccines can be provided to an injured person within seven days after injury.
3. Drugs are also provided to control muscle contraction.

An individual can have a non-communicable disease for a long time without showing symptoms. It is difficult for an individual to seek medical care if symptoms are not detected. It is therefore advised that individuals should do regular health checkups in order to detect diseases in their early stages. Examples of these diseases include cancer, anaemia, diabetes, asthma, rickets, scurvy and heart diseases. Treatment of diseases in their early stages reduces chances of developing other complications.

Cancer

Cancer is a disease that affects human cells. Abnormal cells divide to produce new abnormal cells which are not needed by the body. These abnormal growing cells cause swelling, lump or tumour called cancer. The tumor may grow in any part of the body.

Cancer may be caused by various things that can modify human cells. Some of them are chemicals present in foods such as canned food and preservatives of cereal foods, cosmetics, drugs and harmful radiation. Other causes of cancer include smoking, taking too much alcohol and poor nutrition. The symptoms and signs of cancer depend on its type. There are different types of cancer that are named depending on the affected part or organ of the body. For example, cervical cancer is named after the cervix, skin cancer is named after the skin, breast cancer is named after the breasts and liver cancer is named after the liver.

Prevention of cancer

Cancer can be prevented by

1. avoiding lifestyles that increase chances of developing the disease. These lifestyles include smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol and use of some drugs.
2. Early stages of cancer can be cured. Treatment can be done by surgery which removes the affected tissue or organ.
3. Another way of treating cancer is through the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when normal blood sugar levels are not maintained in the body. Diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are either too high or too low. The major cause of diabetes is the failure of the pancreas to produce enough insulin. This is an organ that is involved in the digestion of food and balancing blood sugar levels.

The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone which controls blood sugar levels in the body. People with diabetes either produce insufficient insulin or produce too much insulin to be used by the body. Diabetes can be inherited from parents or can be acquired in the adult age. Diabetes can affect people of any age or race.

Symptoms of diabetes

Some of the symptoms of diabetes are

1. increased thirst
2. frequent urination
3. tiredness
4. low vision and weight loss or gain without any known reason
5. Others are increased hunger, bad temper, numbness or reduced feeling in the hands or feet and poor healing of wounds

Prevention of diabetes

Diabetes can be prevented by following health principles. These include

• eating healthy foods and balanced diet in order to maintain healthy body weight.
• Diabetes can also be prevented by avoiding smoking and excessive use of alcohol.
• Doing physical exercise regularly helps to manage diabetes.

Asthma

Asthma is a disease that affects the respiratory airways. Asthma can be caused by various substances called allergens. The allergens such as mold, animal fur and feathers can trigger asthma. Other allergens which trigger asthma are dust, strong smell or smoke and pollen from plants. These allergens cause swelling of the airways. Swelling of airways and increased production of mucus make airways narrower than normal making it difficult for an individual to breathe.

Symptoms of asthma

Symptoms of asthma include

1. difficulty to breathe
2. coughing
3. wheezing
4. chest tightness and pain

A person with asthma may produce a whistling or wheezing sound when breathing. Other symptoms include difficulty to sleep due to shortness of breath.

Prevention of asthma

Asthma can be prevented by

1. avoiding exposure to asthma triggers or allergens.
2. An individual having asthma is advised to identify and avoid asthma triggers that cause allergy.
3. Asthma patients are advised to take medication as prescribed by medical specialists.