China's Deadliest Infectious Disease is Now AIDS

For the first time last year, AIDS has become the most infectious disease in China. 6,897 of its citizens died within the first nine months of 2008 due to the disease. The Chinese government has improved the reporting of HIV/AIDS statistics and is acknowledging its presence in the country. China has denied that AIDS is a problem in the country for a long time, partly due to the low amount of reported deaths.

In recent years, leaders of China have more open about the disease, offered free treatment for the poor, anonymous testing, and have banned discrimination against people who have the disease. The government of China and UNAIDS estimate that the number of citizens in China living with HIV is estimated at 700,000 and 85,000 of these people have full blown AIDS. About 34,864 people have died from aids since its first reported death in 1985. The main causes of HIV infections are due to sex, drug abuse, unsanitary blood plasma, and tainted transfusions in hospitals.

Bacteria Linked to Infant Deaths

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of one. British researchers have found that bacteria may play a big part in SIDS. They found possibly dangerous bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, in almost half of all babies who died of SIDS.

Researchers are not sure if bacteria are the cause or if the bacteria are identifying other possible risk factors. The higher levels of bacteria might be evidence of other conditions, such as a room being too hot or bad room ventilation for the baby.

SIDS is usually diagnosed when there aren’t any other causes of death that can be found when a healthy infant dies, usually in their sleep. At birth, mothers transfer some of their antibodies against infection to their babies but when the babies are between eight to ten weeks old, the antibodies from the mother are nearly gone and the babies have to start making their own. This could make the babies more vulnerable to bacterial infections. SIDS usually affects babies that are between eight and ten weeks old.

To prevent SIDS it is recommended to have babies sleep on their backs and to not put too many blankets on them.

Air Pollution Causing Premature Deaths

It is found that short-term exposure to smog and air pollution is linked to premature deaths. Premature death from air pollution is highest in people that have heart and lung disease but can affect anybody. The exposure can cause lung conditions, illness, hospitalization, and death. It can cause respiratory illnesses and effects elderly people with respiratory problems and children the worst.

Brain-Eating Amoeba Causes Deaths

It is reported that a brain-eating amoeba has been causing deaths and health scares. The amoeba gets into the body through the nasal cavity and destroys tissue as it moves toward the brain. You can get it by swimming in lakes, hot springs, and swimming pools. It lives in the bottom of the waters and lives off of algae and bacteria. People can get infected when they wade through the water and stir up the bottom of the water. It has infected and killed 23 people between 1995 and 2004. There have been several hundred cases worldwide since its discovery in 1960.

People that are infected complain about a stiff neck, headaches, and fevers. They soon show signs of brain damage and have hallucinations and changes in behavior. There is a very small chance of surviving and the infected die within two weeks.