Not so sure about the inclusion of schizophrenia - not really a disease per se, but mostly good.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
It's a disease just as much as heart disease is. It didn't say the list was only of communicable diseases, or those caused by microbes.
Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :
It's a bit of a mish mash. Neither heart failure or schizophrenia are considered to be contagious like the others (parasite, virus, bacteria etc). If you're going for overall quality of life, diabetes should be included. Complications of blindness, amputations, and daily injections are pretty unpalatable. If you're going for pure gross then heart failure isn't that gross. If you're going for hard-to-cure then TB isn't that fitting (access to meds is the problem).
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
I do feel rather ill now...
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
From the article,
quote:Yet most of these cases occur in poor parts of the world. It is my belief that if malaria were endemic to wealthier parts, such as the USA, more effective treatments and even a vaccine might have been found already.
What are they talking about? It was my understanding that malaria was common in parts of the United States and Europe until DDT eradicated it.
Posted by scholarette (Member # 11540) on :
My understanding of malaria was that it was not worth the investment because things like mosquito netting were so cheap and effective. A vaccine is simply not the best response, so no one invests in it.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by dabbler: If you're going for overall quality of life, diabetes should be included. Complications of blindness, amputations, and daily injections are pretty unpalatable.
Amen. Not to mention delayed healing of injuries (even when that manages not to become an amputation.)
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
Mmm, my Dad has been a type 1 diabetic for over 40 years, and when he used to play golf his hands would begin to bleed all over the place after about an hour. He doesn't play anymore.
Posted by SoaPiNuReYe (Member # 9144) on :
My dad had malaria, and according to him, he was very lucky to have survived. The statistic that goes along with schizonphrenia is pretty scary.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by SoaPiNuReYe: The statistic that goes along with schizonphrenia is pretty scary.
quote:For clinicians, the analysis indicates clearly that lifetime prevalence is 4.0/1,000 and not 1%, as reported in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition [9], and other textbooks.
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
While not a disease, amniotic band syndrome is a congenital condition that has a very high rate of death among unborn and young babies. Survivors commonly require amputation at some point in life if not early on. Try telling your ten year old that he is lucky to have survived infancy but he will still have to his arm removed.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
As long as we're talking about nasty diseases that have been common, how about polio.