A Illness Details

There are two types of African trypanosomiasis (also called sleeping sickness); each is named for the region of Africa in which they are found. The disease is caused by a parasite named Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (tri-PAN-o-SO-ma BREW-see-eye rho-DEE-see-ense), carried by the tsetse fly. Worldwide, approximately 25,000 new cases of both East and West African trypanosomiasis are reported to the World Health Organization each year. However, many cases are not reported due to a lack of infrastructure and the true number of new cases is undoubtedly much higher. Since 1967, thirty-six cases of East African trypanosomiasis have been reported within the United States, all among individuals who had traveled to Africa.

A bite by the tsetse fly is often painful and can develop into a red sore, also called a chancre (SHAN-ker). Fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints are common symptoms of sleeping sickness. Some people develop a skin rash. Progressive confusion, personality changes, slurred speech, seizures, and difficulty in walking and talking occur when infection has invaded the central nervous system. If left untreated, infection becomes worse and death will occur within several weeks or months.

An individual will get African trypanosomiasis if they are bitten by a tsetse fly infected with the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense parasite. The tsetse fly is common only to Africa.

 

Aids is the final stage of HIV infection. When the immune system CD4 cells drop to a very low level, a person’s ability to fight infection is lost. This also causes a degree of immune system failure. This is called AIDS defining illness.

Cough and shortness of breath, Seizures and lack of coordination, Difficult or painful swallowing, Mental symptoms such as confusion and forgetfulness, severe and persistent diarrhea, fever, vision loss, nausea and vomiting, weight loss and extreme fatigue, coma, severe headaches with neck stiffness.

Sharing needles to take drugs. Having unprotected sex with an infected person.

 

Altitude illness can begin to occur at 8000ft (2400m) or lower still, but serious altitude illness is rare below 10,000 ft ( 3000 m). Symptoms occur due to our body not adapting well to having less oxygen at high altitudes. Body tries to adapt to lower amounts of oxygen in the air mainly by increasing the rate and depth of breathing so you breathe faster and deeper. There is also an increase in heart rate. Both of these mechanisms try to bring more oxygen to the body.

Mild symptoms of acute mountain sickness or AMS are headache, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, lack of sleep and dizziness.

 

Amebiasis is a disease caused by a one celled parasite called Entamoeba. It can affect the lungs and brain in some cases but mostly just causes mild sickness. 

Loose stool, stomach pain, stomach cramping. 

Putting anything into your mouth that has touched the stool of a person who is infected, swallowing something, such as water or food that is contaminated, touching and bringing to your mouth cysts (eggs) picked up from surfaces that are contaminated.

 

Also known as Chagas disease, is caused by a blood parasite. Worldwide, it is estimated that 16 to 18 million people are infected with the disease. 50,000 of those infected will die each year. It is most commonly seen in South America, Middle America, and Mexico.

Fever, malaise, swollen lymph nodes, swelling of the eyes or the infected area. 

It is spread by bugs(or “kissing” bugs) that live in cracks and holes of substandard housing from the southern U.S. to southern Argentina. The bugs defecate while blood-feeding, and if the insect is infected with the parasite, the parasite can enter the bloodstream when the host scratches the bite wound. People can also become infected by: bugs directly depositing feces in one’s eyes, receiving infection from mother during pregnancy, blood transfusions.

 

Avian influenza virus usually refers to influenza A viruses found chiefly in birds, but infections can occur in humans.

Symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical human influenza-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other severe and life-threatening complications.

During an outbreak of avian influenza among poultry, there is a possible risk to people who have contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with secretions or excretions from infected birds.