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Influenza. An infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract, with fever, malaise
and muscular aches. It is transmitted by a virus and occurs in epidemics.
Rubella. A common infectious viral disease of children, with mild fever, swollen
lymph nodes and a rash. It can cause stillbirth or malformation of an unborn baby if
the mother catches the disease while pregnant.
Coryza. An illness, with inflammation of the nasal passages, in which the patient
sneezes and coughs and has a blocked and running nose.
Varicella. An infectious disease of children, caused by a herpes virus, and
characterized by fever and red spots which turn to itchy blisters.
Rubeola. An infectious disease of children where the body is covered with a red
rash. It can weaken the body's resistance to other disease, especially bronchitis and
ear infections. If caught by an adult it can be very serious.
Infectious parotitis. An infectious disease of children, with fever and swellings in
the salivary glands, caused by a paramyxovirus.
Pertussis. An infectious disease affecting the bronchial tubes. It is common in
children and sometimes very serious. The patient coughs very badly and makes a
characteristic 'whoop' when inhaling after a coughing fit.
Allergic rhinitis. An inflammation in the nasal passage and eyes. It is caused by an
allergic reaction to flowers, their pollen and scent, as well as to dust.
Epilepsy. A disorder of the nervous system in which there are convulsions and loss
of consciousness due to disordered discharge of cerebral neurons.
Parkinson's disease. A slow, progressive disorder of elderly people, it affects
the parts of the brain which control movement. The symptoms include trembling
of the limbs, a shuffling walk and difficulty in speaking.
Tuberculosis. An infectious disease in which infected lumps form in the tissue. Its
commonest form is infection of the lungs, causing patients to lose weight, cough
blood and have a fever. It is caught by breathing in germs or by eating
contaminated food, especially unpasteurized milk.
Cystic fibrosis. A hereditary disease of the pancreas or mucoviscidosis, in which
there is a malfunction of the exocrine glands. Symptoms include loss of weight,
abnormal faeces and bronchitis. If diagnosed early, it can be controlled with
vitamins, physiotherapy and pancreatic enzymes.
Cholera. Serious bacterial disease spread through food or water. The infected person
suffers from diarrhoea, cramp in the intestines and dehydration. The disease is often
fatal.
Diphtheria. A serious, infectious disease of children. Its first symptoms are a sore
throat, followed by a slight fever, rapid pulse and swelling of the glands in the neck.
A fibrous growth like a membrane forms in the throat and can close the air passages.
The disease is often fatal, either because the patient is asphyxiated or because the
heart becomes fatally weakened.
Cerebral palsy. A disorder of the brain, mainly due to brain damage occurring
before birth or due to lack of oxygen during birth. The patient may have bad
coordination of muscular movements, impaired speech, hearing and sight, and
sometimes mental retardation.