Sedgwick County, Kansas Health Department
Health Issues
(Some fact
sheets available in Spanish and/or Vietnamese.
Where available, these fact sheets are listed under the English title. See
Anthrax below for an example.)
AIDS is a disease caused by the virus, HIV, that
damages the body's immune system and destroys its
ability to fight illness.
Anthrax is a serious disease caused by a bacterium
that forms spores. A bacterium is a very small
organism made up of one cell. Many bacteria can
cause disease. A spore is a cell that is dormant
(asleep) but may come to life with the right condition.
Avian Influenza, commonly known as “Bird flu,” is an
infectious disease of birds caused by the type A strains
of the Influenza virus (H5NI). Type A influenza viruses
can infect several animal species including birds, pigs,
horses, seals and whales.
Baby bottle tooth decay is a dental condition that
can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child.
By taking the right precautions, parents can reduce baby
bottle tooth decay.
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing
against the walls of the arteries. Optimal blood
pressure for adults is a systolic blood pressure less
than 120 and a diastolic blood pressure less than 80.
The only way to detect high blood pressure is to have it
checked.
Botulinum toxin is the single most poisonous know
substance. It is a series illness caused by a
nerve toxin. There are three types of botulism:
food, wound and infant botulism.
Campylobacter is a bacteria that causes an infection
in the small intestine.
Chlamydia
March 2008
Chlamydia is the most
common STD reported in the United States. According to
the Centers for Disease Control there are more than a
million reported cases in the United States.
Many
people have trouble figuring out if they have the
symptoms of a common cold, or something more serious,
such as seasonal influenza. Check out this helpful fact
sheet for some clear differences between the two.
An up-to-date list of Sedgwick County Community Health
Clinics and their contact information.
Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal
disease caused by microscopic parasites. Once an animal
or person is infected, the parasite lives in the
intestine and passes in the stool.
This acute fever is caused by the bite of an infected
mosquito. The types of mosquitoes that transmit the
Dengue live in tropical urban areas of the world.
Dengue cannot be spread directly from person-to-person.
Diabetes means that your blood glucose (often called
blood sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some
glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy
to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood can
cause health problems.
Research proves that fruit and vegetables are
critical to promoting good health. Eating a
variety of fruits and veggies everyday can help reduce
the risk of: heart disease, high blood pressure, type II
diabetes, and certain cancers.
E. coli is a bacteria that can cause severe illness
and even death in humans. Infection usually occurs by
consuming contaminated food, often due to inadequately
cooked beef, raw milk, fruits and/or vegetables which
are contaminated with ruminant feces. Waterborne
transmission has also been documented. In addition,
person to person transmission can occur if hand washing
habits are inadequate.
Fifth Disease is a mild rash illness which occurs
most commonly in children. Although the facial rash may
cause alarm, the disease is mostly harmless.
FirstWatch™ is an early warning
biosurveillance system designed to monitor the 9-1-1 and
other public safety systems for abnormalities that may
indicate a biological attack or other significant
medical trends.
Floods can increase the
transmission of communicable diseases. Click on More
Information to learn what you can do to protect your
family and self in the situation of a flood.
Giardia is a protozoan, or parasite, that can
cause intestinal illnesses. Symptoms may include
chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, frequent
loose and pale greasy stools, fatigue and weight loss.
However, some individuals may be asymptomatic.
Head lice are parasitic insects found on the
heads of people. Having head lice is very common.
Hepatitis A is a liver disease that
sets in quickly. Common symptoms include fever, loss of
appetite, weight loss, nausea and abdominal discomfort.
Hepatitis A goes away on its own; there is not a
specific treatment for Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease that
can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of
the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Symptoms may or may not be present and include loss of
appetite, nausea, and joint aches. A low-grade fever may
occur.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that
can have symptoms and last a lifetime, or can show no
symptoms and go away on its own. It is estimated 4.1
million Americans have been infected with Hepatitis C
with 3.2 million experiencing the disease chronically,
or long-term.
The
HPV virus can cause changes in the cervix and lead to
cervical cancer. In fact, almost all cervical cancers
are related to HPV.
Immunizations help the body's immune system do its work. They work by
developing protection against future infections, the same as if being exposed to
the natural disease. Children under 5 are especially susceptible to
disease because their immune systems have not built up the necessary defenses to
fight infection.
Anyone can get the flu (even
healthy people), and serious problems from influenza can
happen at any age. Influenza is a viral infection
of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs.
Lead poisoning is a preventable disease that affects
children's health. Childhood lead poisoning occurs in
all population groups and income brackets. There is not
a safe level of lead.
Lyme Disease is a tick-borne infection that normally
lives in small animals. The first sign of
infection is usually a circular rash. If treated
promptly, complete recovery is possible.
Measles (Rubeola) is a contagious
disease caused by a virus.
Meningococcal meningitis is a severe bacterial
infection of the bloodstream and meninges (a thin lining
covering the brain and spinal cord). It is a relatively
rare disease and usually occurs as a single isolated
event.
MMRS
February 2008
The Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) is a
grant program under the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS).
Mumps is
an acute viral disease caused by the mumps virus.
Nitrates are a chemical compound that are formed
naturally from the combination of nitrogen and oxygen or
ozone. High levels of nitrogen-nitrate can be harmful to
the health of people when found in drinking water. This
is especially true for infants and pregnant women.
Everyone needs to be concerned about preventing dental
disease. Almost 3 of every 10 adults over age 65 have lost all their
teeth, primarily because of tooth decay and gum disease.
This link will help you find oral
health care providers available for low income,
Medicaid, Medicare and uninsured patients. Most services
are available on a sliding scale.
Learn the basic facts about the avian flu and pandemic
flu.
Regular physical activity can improve health and
reduce the risk of premature death. There are five
components of physical activity. They include:
cardio respiratory endurance, muscular strength,
muscular endurance, body composition, and flexibility.
Plague is an infectious disease that affects animals
and humans. It is caused by the bacteium Yersinia
pestis.
Rabies is a preventable viral disease
of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a
rabid animal.
Radium is a radioactive element
that occurs naturally in very low concentrations in the
earth’s crust. The main use of radium has been as a
component in luminous paint used on the dials of
watches, clocks, and other instruments. Due to health
and safety concerns it is no longer used for this
purpose. Long-term exposure to radium increases the risk
of developing several diseases.
Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) are spread by
swallowing
contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes,
rivers, floodwaters or oceans. Chlorine in
swimming pools does kill germs, but it takes time. RWIs can be diarrheal illness, skin rashes, ear
infections, eye infections and respiratory infections.
Ricin is a poison that can be made from the waste
left over from processing castor beans and can be in the
form of powder, mist, pellet, or it can be dissolved in
water or weak acid. It is a stable substance that is not
affected much by extreme conditions such as hot or cold
temperatures.
Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea in
babies and young children. It is often accompanied by
vomiting and fever. The rotavirus vaccine is the best
way to protect children against this disease.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most
frequent cause of respiratory disease in infants and
young children. Close to 90,000 children
are hospitalized each year with RSV.
Salmonellosis (salmonella) is a bacteria that is
found in contaminated foods. Salmonella grows when foods
are improperly handled or prepared.
Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke
exhaled by smokers and the smoke given off by the end of
a cigarette, pipe or cigar. This smoke can cause a wide
range of illness and disease including cancer.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
is a viral respiratory illness caused by a Corona virus
that was first reported in Asia in February 2003.
Shingles is a painful skin rash,
often with blisters. The rash is caused by the same
virus that causes chickenpox. Only someone who has had a
case of chickenpox can get shingles.
The Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) is
continuing to investigate an unusual increase in the
number of shigellosis cases reported in Sedgwick County.
Smallpox is a very serious disease; it is contagious
and sometimes life-threatening. Smallpox is caused by
the variola virus, which spreads from contact with
infected persons. About 70% of patients infected with
smallpox recover. Some are left blind.
Staphylococcus aureus, often simply referred to as “Staph,”
are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose
of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the
population has the bacteria, but it does not harm them.
Staph can cause infections. In fact, it is the most
common cause of skin infections in the United States.
The "stomach flu" (norovirus) is commonly confused
with seasonal flu (influenza), although the two are not
related. Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are common with
the stomach flu. Influenza is a respiratory illness.
Strep throat is an infection that
can cause throat pain, difficulty swallowing, red and
swollen tonsils, a fever, or rash. It is most common in
children between the ages of 5 and 15, but affects
people of all ages. If not treated, strep throat can
develop more serious complications.
Any time the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are able to
reach the earth, you need to protect yourself from
excessive sun exposure. UV rays can cause skin
damage during any season or temperature.
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is passed
from person to person through direct contact.
Tetanus or lockjaw, is a bacterial infection that
affects the nervous system. Because of widespread
immunization, tetanus is a rare disease.
One person dies every 72 seconds from a
tobacco-related disease. Tobacco can cause disease
throughout the body, not only in the lungs.
How does tobacco affect oral health and what are the
signs and symptoms of oral cancer?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease,
which is spread almost exclusively by airborne
transmission of bacteria.
Tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever," is a disease
that is typically found in animals, especially rodents,
rabbits and hares. Tularemia is usually a rural
disease and has been reported in all U.S. States except
Hawaii.
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF's) refer to a group of
illnesses that are caused by several distinct families
of viruses. Some types of hemorrhagic fevers can
causes relatively mild illnesses, however, many of these
viruses cause severe, life-threatening disease.
West Nile Virus is spread through the bite of a mosquito. There are several steps you can take to
reduce mosquito breeding and avoid mosquito bites. Both of which will help
reduce your chances of being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease
that affects the respiratory system that produces spasms
of coughing that may end in a high-pitched, deep
inhalation (the "whoop"). However, Pertussis is
vaccine preventable and treatable with antibiotics.
©, Copyright, 2007 Sedgwick County Health Department
last update:
05/01/08
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