Top 10 Most Hazardous Diseases of the 21st Century

Have you ever been scared by the idea of death? If the answer is negative then you may like to think again. Here is a list of top ten most hazardous diseases of the developing world which can affect any one if one doesn’t take enough precautions attached with them. These diseases have been ranked by their annual death toll which is updated annually. The list is as follows:

1. Respiratory Infections

Mostly these lower respiratory infections include pneumonia and  diseases of the lungs, tracheal tube etc. These diseases often spread by coughing, sneezing, laughing or exhaling. These diseases have an annual death toll of more than four million people.

2. HIV/AIDS

“Human immunodeficiency virus” also known as HIV, destroys the immune system of human body. It can spread by unprotected sex, unsafe blood transfusions or contaminated needles and from even mother to child during child birth. The death toll of this deadly disease stands at more than 3 million deaths annually.

3. Malaria

Malaria is spread by mosquito bites and usually turns fatal if proper treatment is not meted out to the patient. The death toll for this disease stands between one million and five million annually and the number of people affected by it in the world stands around 300 million. The best prevention to this disease is the use insecticide-treated mosquito nets and spraying of indoor insecticide.

4. Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is caused by cholera or dysentery and is a result of infection from bacteria and microscopic worms. Dehydration is the most common cause of death in deaths related with diarrhoea. The death toll for this disease stands at around two million deaths annually. Contaminated food or water usually leads to being infected by diarrhoea.

5. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis or “TB” as it is commonly known is spread by coughing or sneezing and its common symptoms are weight loss, weakness and common chills. The annual death toll stands at two million. It’s most common treatment is DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy Short Course).

6. Measles

Measles is usually caused by coughing and sneezing as it is highly contagious and can cause damage to brain or blindness and can lead to death if proper medical treatment is not administered. The death toll stands at half million cases per year. Successful vaccination has been developed to fight this scourge and can be treated with drugs.

7. Whooping Cough

It is caused by coughing, sneezing or talking. It’s a highly communicable disease caused by bacterial infection in respiratory tract and the annual death toll stands between two to three million cases per year. It can be treated by antibiotics and vaccines.

8. Tetanus

Its also known as lockjaw. Tetanus is a disease caused in our central nervous system due to an untreated wound getting infected by bacteria. Annual death toll stands at around two million cases per year. This disease can be prevented by vaccines.

9. Meningitis

It is a highly fatal infectious disease that affects the brain and is caused by close contact or sharing of utensils. The annual death toll stands at around two million. It can be prevented by vaccines and antibiotics including penicillin but often five to ten percent patients die even after treatment.

10. Syphilis

It is caused by unprotected sexual intimacy and can even be passed by a mother to her child during birth. Many common antibiotics do not work against this disease and the annual death toll stands at one and a half million.

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