Infectious disease in the 20th century
Encyclopedia
Many infectious disease
s that killed by the millions were greatly reduced in the 20th century, with one notable achievement being the eradication of smallpox
, and considerable progress being made toward the eradication of polio and Guinea Worm Disease
.
Other diseases, such as diphtheria
, typhoid fever, tuberculosis
and whooping cough were greatly reduced throughout the world due to childhood immunization
programs, improved sanitation
, and the use of antibiotic
s.
Malaria
, even though easily treatable, is still a major killer in poor countries.
In the United States
the death rate from pneumonia
and influenza
fell 93% in the 20th century; bronchitis
was once responsible for 3% of deaths in America - that figure has fallen to nearly 0.1%.
Two major pandemic
s occurred in the 20th century: an outbreak of a severe strain of influenza (the Spanish Flu
) which killed some 25 million or more people in 1918-1919, and the appearance of AIDS
in the 1980s on. AIDS is transmitted by a virus, and viral diseases can usually only be overcome by vaccination. An effective AIDS vaccine has eluded researchers so far. Anti-viral drugs have been developed, but they are too expensive for most people suffering from AIDS in highly affected areas, such as India and sub-saharan Africa.
In addition to these major pandemics, there have been several minor pandemics resulting from different strains of the influenza virus: the Asian Flu
of 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu
of 1968 being the most notable.
Currently, there is concern about the appearance of antibiotic-resistant strains of infectious organisms
. It is believed that the overuse of antibiotics, including their use in animal husbandry
, contributes to this development.
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
s that killed by the millions were greatly reduced in the 20th century, with one notable achievement being the eradication of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, and considerable progress being made toward the eradication of polio and Guinea Worm Disease
Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis , also called guinea worm disease , is a parasitic infection caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a long and very thin nematode . The infection begins when a person drinks stagnant water contaminated with copepods infested by the larvae of the guinea worm...
.
Other diseases, such as diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
, typhoid fever, tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and whooping cough were greatly reduced throughout the world due to childhood immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....
programs, improved sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
, and the use of antibiotic
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
s.
Malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, even though easily treatable, is still a major killer in poor countries.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
the death rate from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
fell 93% in the 20th century; bronchitis
Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
was once responsible for 3% of deaths in America - that figure has fallen to nearly 0.1%.
Two major pandemic
Pandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
s occurred in the 20th century: an outbreak of a severe strain of influenza (the Spanish Flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
) which killed some 25 million or more people in 1918-1919, and the appearance of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in the 1980s on. AIDS is transmitted by a virus, and viral diseases can usually only be overcome by vaccination. An effective AIDS vaccine has eluded researchers so far. Anti-viral drugs have been developed, but they are too expensive for most people suffering from AIDS in highly affected areas, such as India and sub-saharan Africa.
In addition to these major pandemics, there have been several minor pandemics resulting from different strains of the influenza virus: the Asian Flu
Asian flu
Asian Flu may refer to:* The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, or* Asian Flu, the H2N2 virus...
of 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu
Hong Kong flu
The Hong Kong flu was a category 2 flu pandemic whose outbreak in 1968 and 1969 killed an estimated one million people worldwide. It was caused by an H3N2 strain of the influenza A virus, descended from H2N2 through antigenic shift, a genetic process in which genes from multiple subtypes reassorted...
of 1968 being the most notable.
Currently, there is concern about the appearance of antibiotic-resistant strains of infectious organisms
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where a microorganism is able to survive exposure to an antibiotic. While a spontaneous or induced genetic mutation in bacteria may confer resistance to antimicrobial drugs, genes that confer resistance can be transferred between bacteria in a...
. It is believed that the overuse of antibiotics, including their use in animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
, contributes to this development.