Health Issues: Global Patterns of Morbidity

What is morbidity? What are the global patterns of morbidity? What are yellow fever and influenza?

Refers to AQA AS Geography (Chapter 8 - Health Issues)

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  • Created by: Bethany
  • Created on: 06-04-13 11:50
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  • Health Issues: Global Patterns of Morbidity
    • Morbidity
      • Illness and the reporting of disease.
      • Some diseases are so infectious they must be, by law, reported. Examples include Plague, Cholera and Yellow Fever.
    • Influenzea
      • Virus, attacking upper respiratory tracts, usually lasting about a week.
      • In the very young, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, it may lead to severe complications such as pneumonia.
      • Spreads around the world. Seasonal epidemics.
      • 5-15 % affected in annual epidemics, so great economic burden from healthcare costs/ lost productivity.
      • 3- 5 million cases of severe illness. 250,000 - 500,000 deaths globally per year from flu.
      • Influenza outbreaks in the tropics year-round. High attack and case-mortality rates.
      • Madagascar (2002). 27,000 cases in 3 months and 800 deaths despite intervention.
      • 'Spanish Flu' 1918-1919. Killed at least 40 million people worldwide. Highest death rate among healthy young adults.
    • Yellow Fever
      • Viral disease. Wide spectrum of infection from mild symptoms that affects some patients to jaundice (hence 'yellow'), severe illness and death.
      • Vaccine has been available for over 60 years, but increase in last 20 years.
      • Problems occur is a 'toxic' phase is entered within 24 hours (15% cases.) Bodily systems are affected. Half of all patients in toxic phase die within 10-14 days (kidney failure)
      • Virus constantly present at low levels in Africa/ the Americas (endemic)
      • Viral presence amplifies to regular epidemics.
      • 33 countries (508 million people) in Africa at risk.
      • 200,000 cases (30,000) deaths on average per year, but under-reporting of disease.

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