Disease problems in the Third World
Walsh, J.A.
Annals of the new York Academy of Sciences 569: 1-16
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0077-8923 PMID: 2698079 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1989.tb27354.xDocument Number: 378030
The mean annual rate of decline of the probability of dying 5 years of age in developing countries is 2.5%. Nevertheless disease accounts for a considerable proportion of premature deaths. The leading causes of death in these countries, in order, include respiratory disease, diseases of the circulatory system, low birth weight, diarrhea, measles, injuries, malnutrition, and neoplasms. These conditions represent diseases of poverty and affluence. Respiratory infections are common among 5-year old children and cause a high proportion of child deaths. Circulatory diseases tend to be limited to adults. Control of hypertension, diet, smoking prevention, and exercise can prevent circulatory diseases. The risk of dying in infancy and childhood and of developmental disabilities is higher among low birth weight infants than those who weigh 2500 gm. In Bangladesh, 50% of infants weight 2500 gm. Low birth weight is the underlying cause of death for many infants who die of respiratory infections and diarrhea. Oral rehydration can successfully treat most diarrhea cases. Malnutrition and diarrhea tend to occur together and feed off each other. In fact malnourished people are more susceptible to all infections. Malnourished children suffer from disabilities in development and growth. The greatest sufferers of measles are infants and malnourished children. Immunization of all =or 9-month old infants would eradicate measles. Children and young adults are at the highest risk of injuries. Lung cancer is on the rise in developing countries due to the increase of tobacco smoking. Various means of controlling malaria are use of mosquito nets, antimalarial drugs, reduction of mosquito breeding places, and pesticides. The new infectious disease, AIDS, has emerged as a considerable health problem in developing countries. High priority research areas are vaccines for Streptococcus pneumonia, Plasmodium app., rotavirus, Salmonella typhi (Ty21a), and Shigella spp.