As you know, in the world there are millions of diseases. Most pathologies are common in all regions. Nevertheless, there is a separate group - these are endemic diseases. Such pathologies are not found everywhere, but only on a certain geographic segment. Depending on the prevalence, they distinguish: endemic, pandemic and epidemic.
These diseases include terrible diseases that claimed millions of lives. Among them: plague, cholera, malaria. Like all endemic diseases, these infections began in a certain region, after which they spread throughout the world and were called epidemics. Most often, regional pathologies do not go beyond the boundaries of their biogeographic province.
Endemic diseases: concept
Diseases spanning a particular region are called endemic. These pathologies mean that the source of the problem is in the environment constantly. Typically, such diseases are caused by problems with water, soil or air in the region. Often, endemic pathologies are associated with parasites that live in certain climatic conditions (India, African countries). The most terrible diseases that raged in the Middle Ages and earlier, also first related to regional problems. Fortunately, thanks to the development of epidemiology and medicine, they are not found in the modern world.
Causes of Endemic Disease
In most cases, the etiological factors of endemic diseases are viral and parasitic infections. The carriers of these pathologies are rodents or insects. In some cases, the cause of the disease is a lack of trace elements or vitamins. The deficiency of compounds such as iodine, calcium, vitamins C and D, causes identical disorders in the body in people living in a particular region. An excess of trace elements (for example, fluorine) can also lead to diseases.
Endemic development mechanism
Each endemic disease has its own specific pathogenesis and clinical picture. First of all, it depends on the cause of the pathology. In viral and bacterial infections, the pathogen enters the bloodstream of a person and multiplies in the tissues of the body. After this, the patient begins to manifest symptoms. In most cases, carriers of infections are insects (mosquitoes, bugs) and rodents. In some regions, endemic diseases are associated with parasites that live in water bodies. They penetrate the human body and multiply there. In most cases, the clinical picture develops when stool of parasites enters the bloodstream.
If the cause of endemic disease is a lack of essential vitamins and minerals, then the pathogenesis of such ailments is different. Due to the fact that the body does not receive a certain substance, compensatory mechanisms begin to work. As a result, target organs hypertrophy, and their functioning is impaired. The clinical picture of each pathology depends on which system is affected due to a lack of trace elements or vitamin.
The relationship of endemic diseases with epidemiology
Endemic diseases have a direct relationship with the area in which they spread. The lack or excess of trace elements in the region leads to an increase in the number of pathologies in this area. The following disorders can serve as examples: endemic goiter, fluorosis, level disease, scurvy, etc. Widespread infection leads to the development of pandemics and epidemics. This usually applies to viral, parasitic and bacterial diseases.
Thus, there was a spread of plague, cholera, malaria. Since these infections are carried by rodents and insects, they have infected entire continents. Diseases specific to the African region include Congo-Crimean fever, Ebola virus, HIV. Some authors attribute alcohol and drug addiction to endemic pathologies.
The worst diseases: plague, cholera
The most common endemic diseases include especially dangerous infections that have claimed millions of lives. A special place is occupied by the plague pandemic. This disease covered several continents at once. Widespread plague is associated with the migration of rodents, which are a reservoir of infection. Infection can occur in several ways. Most often this is a vector-borne route (via flea bites). Also, the pathogen can enter the body with food and through the inhaled air (with pulmonary disease). Despite the fact that the infection is very rare at present, it is worth remembering that the plague carriers, as before, are rats. Unlike humans, rodents can be sick for a long time. If they have a chronic infection, they are contagious.
Another endemic disease that has gone into the epidemic is cholera. Like the plague, it claimed millions of lives and spread almost worldwide. The causative agent of the infection is cholera vibrio. The route of transmission of the disease is most often water or alimentary. This infection is still found in areas with poor sanitary conditions.
The clinical picture of endemic diseases
Symptoms of endemic diseases differ from each other. With a lack of trace elements, a certain system usually suffers. Examples are endemic goiter, level disease. In the first case, there is a lack of iodine in the body. This leads to a decrease in the hormonal function of the thyroid gland. The result is a delay in mental and physical development. Level disease is characteristic of areas with low calcium in drinking water. It is found in Transbaikalia, China and Korea. The clinical picture of the pathology is the deformation of the osteoarticular system.
Excess micronutrients can also lead to endemic diseases. An example is fluorosis. With this disease, fluoride accumulates in tooth enamel, which is manifested by dark spots and caries.
Endemic infections are especially dangerous. They are characterized by intoxication and damage to the whole organism. Plague is accompanied by the appearance of septic ulcers on the skin or destruction of lung tissue. Cholera leads to progressive dehydration.
Diagnosis of endemic diseases
Diagnosis of endemic diseases is usually not difficult. Since the scale of the pathology is large, symptoms are quickly associated with a deficiency or excess of a certain chemical element. In this case, it is necessary to analyze the soil, water and air in the area. If this is an infectious pathology, then it is very important to find its source. For each disease, it is different. For example, carriers of plague - fleas, Congo-Crimean fever - ticks. Since most diseases are zooanthroponic, it is necessary to find a reservoir of infection. Most often these are rats, mice, livestock.
In infectious processes, doctors take biological material (feces, urine, saliva), as well as food that the patient consumed, for research. A bacteriological analysis of blood and bowel movements is performed.
Methods for controlling endemic diseases
To combat infectious endemic diseases requires the work of not only doctors, but also epidemiologists. A quarantine zone is immediately formed at the site of infection. All patients must be hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital.
Persons who contacted patients should be screened and not leave the quarantine zone. This is necessary to avoid the further spread of infection. At the site of infection, material is taken for an epidemiological study. Sanitation is carried out , which includes washing the room with disinfectants, airing, boiling linen. The quarantine zone should not be accessible to a healthy population. In case of especially dangerous infections, medical personnel work in a special form (antiplague suit).
Endemic Disease Prevention
Endemic diseases require timely prevention. In places with a lack of trace elements and vitamins, the necessary substances are added to food (iodized salt), water. Diagnosis of newborns is carried out (for phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism). If an endemic disease is suspected, biological supplements with missing vitamins and minerals are prescribed. Also, for some pathologies, a special regimen is required (walking in the sun), periodic changes in climatic conditions.