ALLERGY

Allergy involves an exaggerated response of the immune system, often to common

substances such as foods or pollen.
The immune system is a complex system that normally defends the body against foreign
invaders, such as bacteria and viruses, while also surveying for abnormal tissue changes,
such as cancer.
Allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and that cause an allergic reaction.
IgE is the allergic antibody.
Although many individuals outgrow allergies over time, allergies can also develop at any
age, including during adulthood.
While the environment plays a role in the development of allergy, there is a greater risk
of developing allergic conditions if a person has a family history of allergy, especially in
parents or siblings.

CHOLERA

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to
dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water
contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.

Cholera Treatment and Prevention

Although there is a vaccine against cholera, the CDC and World Health Organization don't
normally recommend it, because it may not protect up to half of the people who receive it and it
lasts only a few months. However, you can protect yourself and your family by using only water
that has been boiled, water that has been chemically disinfected, or bottled water. Be sure to use
the bottled, boiled, or chemically disinfected water for the following purposes:

Drinking
Preparing food or drinks
Making ice
Brushing your teeth
Washing your face and hands
Washing dishes and utensils that you use to eat or prepare food
Washing fruits and vegetables

MALARIA

Malaria is a life-threatening blood disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans

through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Once an infected mosquito bites a human
and transmits the parasites, those parasites multiply in the host's liver before infecting and
destroying red blood cells.
TYPHOID

Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by the Salmonella typhi
bacteria. It can also be caused by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually
causes a less severe illness. The bacteria are deposited in water or food by a human
carrier and are then spread to other people in the area.

Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics which kill the Salmonella bacteria. Prior to the
use of antibiotics, the fatality rate was 20%. Death occurred from overwhelming
infection, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding, or intestinal perforation. With antibiotics and
supportive care, mortality has been reduced to 1%-2%. With appropriate antibiotic
therapy, there is usually improvement within one to two days and recovery within seven
to 10 days.

DYSENTERY

Dysentery is an intestinal inflammation, especially in the colon, that can lead to severe
diarrhea with mucus or blood in the feces.

The World Health Organization1 says there are two main types of dysentery:

Bacillary dysentery, caused by Shigella, a bacterium. In Western Europe and the USA
it is the most common type of dysentery among people who have not recently been to
the tropics.
Amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis) This is caused by Entamoeba histolytica, a type of
amoeba, and is more common in the tropics. An amoeba is a protozoan (single-celled)
organism that constantly changes shape.

RINGWORM

Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin and is not due to a worm.
The medical term for ringworm is tinea. The condition is further named for the site of the
body where the infection occurs.
Some types of ringworm infection include tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea pedis
("athlete's foot"), and tinea cruris ("jock itch").
Ringworm causes a scaly, crusted rash that may appear as round, red patches on the
skin.Other symptoms and signs of ringworm include patches of hair loss or scaling on the
scalp, itching, and blister-like lesions.
Ringworm is contagious and can be passed from person to person.
Ringworm can be successfully treated with antifungal medications used either topically
or orally.
SCABIES

Scabies is an itchy, highly contagious skin disease caused by an infestation by the itch
mite Sarcoptes scabiei.
Direct skin-to-skin contact is the mode of transmission.
A severe and relentless itch is the predominant symptom of scabies.
Sexual contact is the most common form of transmission among sexually active young
people, and scabies has been considered by many to be a sexually transmitted disease
(STD), although not all cases are transmitted sexually.
Signs and symptoms of scabies include a skin rash composed of small red bumps and
blisters that affects specific areas of the body. Other symptoms can include tiny red
burrows on the skin and relentless itching. The itchy skin leads to frequent scratching,
which may predispose the skin to secondary infections.
Treatment includes oral or topical scabicidal drugs.