Diseases
Disease is a physical abnormality that causes problems and would then be classified as a pathology. Medicine attempts to cure disease.
Diseases may be spread by animals (e.g. Mosquito-borne diseases, or schistosomiasis (a helminth worm carried by snails)) or by microorganisms (which are called pathogens when they spread disease), especially through poor hygiene, and poor sanitation (see water-borne diseases.
Poor nutrition and unhealthy living conditions increase susceptibility to disease. This applies to both environmental diseases such as respiratory illnesses, and those caused by pathogens, which can more successfully attack when a person's immune system is weak).
All these mechanisms are exacerbated by poverty, and often also by lack of hygiene education.
Seemingly trivial diseases can be deadly - diarrhea kills millions every year, mainly children.
Cures can also be simple. Oral rehydration therapy prevents dehydration and keeps people alive through serious diarrhea, until the infection passes.
[edit] See also
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