Diseases That Were Once A Death Sentence But Not Anymore

“Medicine for Hope”. Truly, medicine HAS brought us hope. In the last sets of decades, the medical world has tremendously evolved (maybe just as fast as the world of technology has and hey, who knows, even more) and diseases that were once a death sentence have joined the group of curable diseases.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is by far one of the most notorious diseases in the history of human kind, and in the world of medicine. And just as much as it helped to make an important discovery in the medical world (the invention of the stethoscope by the French physician René Laennec,the discovery of its cure also marked an important milestone in the history of diseases treatment. Caused by an atypical type of bacteria (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis), tuberculosis is a disease of the respiratory tract that affects the lungs by causing localized areas of necrosis which can further progressed into disseminated disease (particularly in the cases of reactivated tuberculosis.

It is resistant to the typical bacterial digestion that our immune cells perform to get rid of bacteria. Because its cell wall cannot be broken by our immune cells, specialized immune cells therefore trap the bacteria in a structure called granuloma, preventing its evasion. However, when the immune system is weak, even that defense fails and the Mycobacterium TB is capable of escaping.

Tuberculosis generally presents with fever, night sweats, hemoptysis (coughing of blood) and weight loss within a period of 1-2 months.

AIDS

This HIV induced systemic disease is no longer a death sentence, thanks to the advances in molecular biology and the discovery of anti-retroviral drugs. And just to highlight how life changing these medications are, it has been confirmed that patients with HIV who are on antiretroviral drugs have the same life expectancy as people without HIV.

With a boosted immune system, the HIV is unable to replicate at a rapid rate, and the patient is not at risk of opportunistic infections (which are the main criteria in AIDS). Antiretroviral drugs do not stop one from being infected with the Human Immunodeficient Virus (apart from fetuses in utero and newborns); but for the average individual, safe sex practices, careful blood transfusions and reduction of the use of infected needles help with that. However, they prevent you from sinking into AIDS, which is more often than not, a stage of no return.

See Also: HIV/AIDS Infected?: Do not panic, read this!

Heart Attack

There was a time when having a heart attack was the equal and direct synonym of being dead. Not that myocardial infarctions (routinely known as “heart attacks”) have necessarily been less frequent – because, frankly, the main risk factors which are diabetes, hypertension and cigarette smoking still remain – but we have become more apt, skilled and proficient at recognizing it early and treating it accurately. Physicians now know that the tell-tale signs of a myocardial infarction (a typical one, at least) are severe crushing chest pain (that could radiate to the left arm), sweating and nausea, all of a sudden onset. And even if it ends up not being a heart attack at the end, we carefully screen all patients presenting with the red flags for a heart attack, just to be on the safe side. Additionally, new technologies and management strategies have been developed to assist depending on the degree of coronary artery stenosis. In other words, a person whose coronary artery is blocked at 70% would not be treated as one whose artery is blocked at up to 90% is. On another side, measures are being taken to reduce the risk factors of heart attacks, particularly for those who are at higher risks (people suffering from hypertension, diabetes or those who smoke).

Appendicitis: Still Deadly If Not Treated On Time

Lower left abdominal pain, severe vomiting and guarding, accompanied by severe pain upon touching the abdomen: does that ring a bell? Now, yes, but back then, the only bell it would ring was probably the church bell to announce the beginning of the funeral service. No, I am just kidding. But seriously. Nowadays, physicians have become more astute in identifying and managing cases of acute appendicitis. This inflammation of the appendix can be caused by either a fecalith (small stones made of stools that obstruct the appendiceal lumen) or secondary to bacterial overgrowth.

This is simply due to the fact that a rupture of the inflamed appendix would lead to a spontaneous bacterial peritonitis that could lead to death within minutes. History and physical examination, abdominal x-rays and laboratory tests can now help us to identify acute appendicitis and decide whether or not surgery would be the lifesaving procedure to undergo.

Malaria

In the past few decades, researchers have been able to identify a much wider variety of mosquitoes involved in a lot of medical conditions. Mosquitoes have become primary carriers for a lot of arthropod borne diseases. This include disease such as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Chikungunya, Western Equine Encephalitis, etc. just to name a handful. The incidence of these diseases vary according to periods, with some years being renowned for pandemics and even epidemics of the abovementioned diseases. However, one that does not change with the season, the time or the people is definitely malaria. Malaria is – unfortunately – present at all times, all years, and regardless of the global disease trends. Highly endemic in developing countries (particularly in Africa and in Asia), malaria has become a medical challenge due to the increasingly growing levels of resistance to medications.  The malaria parasite, the Plasmodium Falciparum, is transmitted by a female mosquito bite. Malaria presents (within 72 hours of a mosquito bite) with severe headaches, body pain, sky-high fevers, dehydration and mental status changes. The most important clue in diagnosing the disease is being in a malaria-prone region (or having returned from one recently).

The emphasis on the use of mosquito nets, protective bedding and sanitization methods has truly impacted the health standards in affected communities. Malaria has not yet fully been eradicated in all parts of the world, but with the increasing and noticeable effort, we can assure that we are well on our way.

See Also: Malaria: Radical Change Of Strategy Offers Hope For Eradication Of Disease

Diarrheas

The main reason why diarrheas used to be fatal back then was the fact they cause an almost immediate dehydration. And God knows (and so do Doctors) how much our body suffers in cases of severe dehydration. First and foremost, the electrolytes balance is deranged, and this can set the perfect ground for fatal cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, the kidney function severely declines, which worsens the electrolytes disturbance. When you wisely add that to a dropping blood pressure and a decreased volume of fluid going to the heart, you can clearly see how patients suffering from diarrhea are so close to the…other side. Today, the mainstay of diarrhea management is aggressive yet balanced fluid replacement.