Six More Disabilities Affecting Millions

5. Typhus

Typhus is a disease transmitted by fleas on rats, cats, opossums, and flying squirrels. Over a million people died of typhus in a single year at the end of World War II, but in the twenty-first century the disease is limited to South Asia (especially Nepal and India), Southeast Asia (especially Malaysia in the dry season), Central and South America, northern China, Africa, and northern Australia. 

The key to controlling typhus is controlling rats and the animals that feed on them. That is a challenging task where rats can feed on fields of grain and people live in conditions that nurture fleas. The solution to the problem of typhus is careful hygiene, but living a life free from fleas is hard if you live in poverty.

6. Deafness

While many deaf people regard their deafness as "different" rather than disabling, there is no doubt that deaf people face many barriers to their full participation in society.

Deafness is most common in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, where the condition is about 3 times more frequent than the world average. Deaf people around the world deal with difficult choices in dealing with deaf culture and the hearing world.

There are different communication options available for individuals with deafness, depending on personal preferences and circumstances. These can include sign language (such as American Sign Language), lip-reading, speech therapy, assistive listening devices, cochlear implants, and hearing aids.

7. Blindness

Surprisingly, the most common cause of blindness is a form of retinitis that can be corrected with a single dose of vitamin A - costing about 3 cents to manufacture but as much as $50 to deliver to a remote village - and the most common cause of low vision is simply not having glasses to correct nearsightedness or astigmatism.

Some causes of blindness may be preventable or treatable with timely medical intervention. Regular eye exams, early detection, and appropriate management of eye diseases or conditions can help preserve vision or slow down further deterioration.

8. Depression

Depression is a state of low mood and inactivity, resulting in withdrawal from social life and loss of productivity on the job. In many cultures, there simply is no concept of depression corresponding to its definition in the West. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that depression is about as prevalent in the developing world as it is in industrialized countries.

The exact cause of depression is not fully understood but likely involves a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Trauma, major life changes, chronic medical conditions, substance abuse, and family history of depression can increase the risk.

Treating depression is difficult under the best of circumstances. However, depression is less of a "hidden burden," to use the WHO's terminology, than it once was, and treatment for depression is becoming available in more and more places around the world.

9. Diabetes

Diabetes was once very rare. Then there was an epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the United States. By 2013, however, there were more diabetics in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the People's Republic of China, as a percentage of population, than in the USA.

Poorly managed diabetes can lead to long-term complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, eye problems (retinopathy), foot problems, and skin conditions. Good blood sugar control, regular check-ups, and early intervention can help reduce the risk of complications.

Good diet is a must, but the right diet for diabetes is about more than just getting the right number of calories.

Read More: Diabetes Symptoms: A Silent Killer Disease

10. Violence

Around the world, people who have disabilities are more likely to suffer assault and rape.

And in many countries, violence is the main cause of disability, especially in countries that have experienced civil war.

There are ways of dealing with every disability--if the right resources can be matched with the people who need them. On this International Disabilities Day, reach and help if you can.