Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells.
Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite.
If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.
Key interventions to control malaria include: prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies; use of insecticidal nets by people at risk; and indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Listeria infections
Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Transmission is generally through eating contaminated food, in particular dairy products and ready-to-eat meat and fish products.
The bacteria have been found in a variety of raw foods, as well as unpasteurized milk. They are destroyed by cooking, but can grow at refrigeration temperatures. The symptoms of infection include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhoea.
If infection spreads to the nervous system, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions may occur. In otherwise healthy individuals, infection is usually mild. However, in pregnant women, infection can lead to miscarriage.
stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn.People with a damaged immune system and the elderly are also at increased risk of more severe disease. The disease has a high fatality rate in the susceptible population.
The bacteria have been found in a variety of raw foods, as well as unpasteurized milk. They are destroyed by cooking, but can grow at refrigeration temperatures. The symptoms of infection include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhoea.
If infection spreads to the nervous system, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions may occur. In otherwise healthy individuals, infection is usually mild. However, in pregnant women, infection can lead to miscarriage.
stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn.People with a damaged immune system and the elderly are also at increased risk of more severe disease. The disease has a high fatality rate in the susceptible population.
Radiation, Ionizing
Ionizing radiation is the energy or particles (protons, electrons or neutrons) produced by unstable atoms of radioactive materials.
It is present in the environment, as a result of both naturally occurring radioactive minerals and cosmic radiation arriving from outer space. Ionizing radiation is also produced by certain.
human activities, such as medicine and industry, and may result from accidents in nuclear facilities and nuclear bomb explosions.When absorbed by the body, radiation produces toxic free radicals.
Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause substantial damage to human body tissues, and may lead to death. Prolonged exposure to lower levels is also associated with increased risk of ill-health
It is present in the environment, as a result of both naturally occurring radioactive minerals and cosmic radiation arriving from outer space. Ionizing radiation is also produced by certain.
human activities, such as medicine and industry, and may result from accidents in nuclear facilities and nuclear bomb explosions.When absorbed by the body, radiation produces toxic free radicals.
Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause substantial damage to human body tissues, and may lead to death. Prolonged exposure to lower levels is also associated with increased risk of ill-health
Intellectual property
This page provides links to descriptions of activities, reports, news and events, as well as contacts and cooperating partners in the various WHO programmes and offices working on this topic. Also shown are links to related web sites and topics.
Intellectual property is a form of new knowledge or a creation which is protected by various kind of intellectual property right (IPR). IPRs are rights awarded to inventors or creators which allow them to prevent others from making unauthorized use of their property.
They include patents and copyright, which offer protection for limited periods. In the context of public health, patents are the most important IPR.
Patents provide the inventor with the right to prevent others from making, selling, distributing, importing or using their invention, generally for a period of 20 years. To obtain a patent the inventor must also disclose the knowledge on which the invention is based.
The temporary exclusion of direct competition provides an incentive for invention and innovation by allowing producers of a new medicine to set prices at a level necessary to recoup the costs of their research and development expenditure and make a return on their investment.
Intellectual property is a form of new knowledge or a creation which is protected by various kind of intellectual property right (IPR). IPRs are rights awarded to inventors or creators which allow them to prevent others from making unauthorized use of their property.
They include patents and copyright, which offer protection for limited periods. In the context of public health, patents are the most important IPR.
Patents provide the inventor with the right to prevent others from making, selling, distributing, importing or using their invention, generally for a period of 20 years. To obtain a patent the inventor must also disclose the knowledge on which the invention is based.
The temporary exclusion of direct competition provides an incentive for invention and innovation by allowing producers of a new medicine to set prices at a level necessary to recoup the costs of their research and development expenditure and make a return on their investment.
Health workforce
Health workers are "all people engaged in actions whose primary intent is to enhance health" (World Health Report ). Workers in health systems around the world are experiencing increasing stress and insecurity as they react to a complex array of forces.
Ageing population, new diseases as well as increasing burden of current diseases, escalating conflicts and violence, are all challenges to which the workforce must be prepared to respond.
The unmistakable imperative is to strengthen the workforce so that health systems can tackle crippling diseases and achieve national and global health goals.
A strong human infrastructure is fundamental to closing today’s gap between health promise and health reality, and anticipating the health challenges of the st century
Ageing population, new diseases as well as increasing burden of current diseases, escalating conflicts and violence, are all challenges to which the workforce must be prepared to respond.
The unmistakable imperative is to strengthen the workforce so that health systems can tackle crippling diseases and achieve national and global health goals.
A strong human infrastructure is fundamental to closing today’s gap between health promise and health reality, and anticipating the health challenges of the st century
Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis is infection with Dracunculus medinensis, a nematode worm. It is caused by drinking water containing water fleas (Cyclops species) that have ingested Dracunculus larvae.
In the human body, the larvae are released and migrate through the intestinal wall into body tissues, where they develop into adult worms.
The female worms move through the person’s subcutaneous tissue, causing intense pain, and eventually emerge through the skin, usually at the feet, producing oedema, a blister and eventually an ulcer, accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting. If they come into contact with water as they are emerging, the female worms discharge their larvae, setting in motion a new life cycle.
There are no drugs available for the treatment of this disease. However, it can be prevented by protecting water sources and filtering potentially contaminated water
In the human body, the larvae are released and migrate through the intestinal wall into body tissues, where they develop into adult worms.
The female worms move through the person’s subcutaneous tissue, causing intense pain, and eventually emerge through the skin, usually at the feet, producing oedema, a blister and eventually an ulcer, accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting. If they come into contact with water as they are emerging, the female worms discharge their larvae, setting in motion a new life cycle.
There are no drugs available for the treatment of this disease. However, it can be prevented by protecting water sources and filtering potentially contaminated water
Essential Medicines
This page provides links to descriptions of activities, reports, news and events, as well as contacts and cooperating partners in the various WHO programmes and offices working on this topic. Also shown are links to related web sites and topics.
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. They are selected with due regard to public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness.
Essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and adequate information, and at a price the individual and the community can afford.
The implementation of the concept of essential medicines is intended to be flexible and adaptable to many different situations; exactly which medicines are regarded as essential remains a national responsibility
Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority health care needs of the population. They are selected with due regard to public health relevance, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness.
Essential medicines are intended to be available within the context of functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in the appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality and adequate information, and at a price the individual and the community can afford.
The implementation of the concept of essential medicines is intended to be flexible and adaptable to many different situations; exactly which medicines are regarded as essential remains a national responsibility
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