That’s welcome news, but the term eliminated can be misleading. It’s just a moment in time and in a globalised world, Australia can’t afford to rest on its laurels, but must continue to vaccinate and test for such conditions, suggests microbiologist Dr Petra Derrington:

‘There are a lot of diseases that Australians might assume have been dealt with and eliminated, but that’s not so.

‘It might surprise people to know how many conditions that we think of as in the past are very much with us today, and if not detected and treated, pose serious health risks.’

Five of the ‘old’ disease states that are still with us are:

Whooping cough

For anyone who has seen someone suffering from whooping cough, particularly a child, it is a disturbing scene. The early symptoms are similar to that of a cold, but it soon progresses to a relentless fit of coughing, followed by a whooping sound as the patient attempts to draw breath. Apnoea, where breathing stops for periods of time and the patient goes blue, is another symptom.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It can last three months and also lead to complications like pneumonia, fits, brain inflammation, haemorrhaging and death. Detecting it as early as possible through testing in order to begin treatment and stop its spread is important, as of course is vaccination.

Syphilis

On the rise in Australia along with other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) syphilis is caused by the spread of the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Many infected with syphilis may not be aware of the symptoms – which include sores on the genitals, mouth or anus and which usually self-heal.

If left untreated, syphilis can have serious health ramifications, which include joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and neurological damage to the brain and other organs of the body depending on the stage of the condition. It is of particular concern to pregnant women.

Tuberculosis

Caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Tuberculosis is a contagious air-borne disease with symtoms including fever, chest pains, and the coughing up of blood. Those at high-risk include young children, or those with conditions that weaken the immune system, such as diabetes, cancers and HIV or AIDS.

Dengue Fever

Most commonly found in tropical locations, dengue fever is a viral infection passed on by dengue mosquitoes. It’s most common in areas of northern Queensland and can be passed on when the virus is brought in by travellers.

Symptoms include muscle and joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, intense headache and may last up to a week. When a dengue outbreak has been reported, everyone who has symptoms and has passed through an effected area should be tested. There are four version of dengue so a blood test is required to determine the correct treatment path.

Measles

Not to be confused with the recently eradicated German Measles (aka Rubella), measles is an air-borne and potentially fatal condition that can lead to complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. While the condition is relatively rare in Australia, it’s worth reminding ourselves that on the world stage, measles is the firth highest cause of illness and death in children.

The early symptoms include fever, coughing and a runny nose. As with whooping cough, vaccination is the best insurance against measles, but a pathology test will reveal if someone has contracted the condition and the process of recovery can begin.

While these disease states have to a large degree been brought under control, thanks to Australia’s vaccination programs, they remain an ever-present danger. And while they are, pathology is critical to detecting and monitoring these conditions to ensure “herd protection”.

‘Vaccination is key, absolutely crucial to making sure we get on top, and stay on top, of these diseases which can have awful consequences.

‘But of course we know that not everyone gets vaccinated and that borders are porous: Australians travel in and out of the country all the time,’ says Dr Derrington.

‘Pathology testing therefore is absolutely critical for keeping a pulse on disease states and monitoring the health of the nation.’

The post 5 medical conditions Australia can’t shake first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.

Eva Peron

Eva Peron’s life has all the touchstones of high drama. Born in a poor village she left for Buenos Aires to pursue an acting career when she met and married future Argentine President, Juan Peron. No shrinking political violet, she ran the ministries of labour and health. Her life’s story has proven irresistible – spawning endless books, films, television series and the musical Evita.

After fainting at a public event in 1950, it was discovered she had advanced cervical cancer. She died soon after in 1952, aged 33. The basis of cervical cancer is the Human papilloma virus (HPV), which today can be picked by an HPV pathology test. Replacing the pap smear test in 2017, the HPV test can be taken every 5 years.

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh made her name in two of Hollywood’s great mid-century blockbusters, Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire. Shortly after starring in Gone with the Wind and marrying Laurence Olivier, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a condition she had recurrent bouts of and which killed her at age 53.

Today, a quarter of the world’s population carry the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria that leads to tuberculosis, but only 5-10% will get sick. Those with weakened immune systems or with already damaged lungs are most susceptible. There are several tests available for tuberculosis which is treatable with a course of medication.

Freddie Mercury

The best-known Zoroastrian in the world – also known as the lead singer and songwriter of rock outfit, Queen – Freddie Mercury died as a result of AIDS in 1991 at 45 after being diagnosed with the condition in 1986. His life was unfortunately just out of sync with the development of HIV medicines, the first experimental AIDS vaccine tested in the US declared safe in 1991.

While Freddie might not have benefitted from early detection of HIV given the medical treatment for HIV was not yet developed commercially, today, anyone else can have an HIV test, and if found positive can seek treatment before it develops into AIDS.

Al Capone

Ultimately nabbed by the United States government for tax evasion and given an 11-year spell in the Atlanta Penitentiary and Alcatraz, Al Capone made his fortune during the Prohibition as a Chicago mobster. It was up like a rocket and down like a stick for Capone. By the ripe age of 33 he was in prison, being released 8 years later.

But his freedom wasn’t what it might have been. At some stage Capone contracted syphilis and upon his release in 1947 was suffering syphilitic dementia. A simple syphilis test for the pathogen Treponema pallidum would have revealed the condition and a course of penicillin would have cured him.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

A workhorse to the end, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was still composing his last masterpiece ‘Requiem’ on his deathbed when he struck a final, sour note, dying at the age of 35, having produced an unbelievable body of work. The cause? As happens in old cases, theories abound, but it’s argued that new evidence points to the cause of death as being kidney damage caused by strep throat.

There was an epidemic of strep throat in 1791. The culprit, the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. A simple Rapid antigen or throat culture test can detect strep throat and then a course of antibiotics is all you need to clear it up. Unless it was death by pork chop, as suggested here. Either way his premature death was a tragic conclusion for Wolfy and the human race. 

That the world was deprived of the unique talents of so many people is sad but also points to how far we’ve come in the detection of medical conditions.

‘Today, we’re extremely fortunate that we can pick up on conditions early so that appropriate medical treatment can begin,’ says microbiologist, Dr Petra Derrington.

‘With the developments in testing and medical treatments over the last century or so, conditions that once proved fatal, need not be the tragedies they once were.’

The post Celebs who might have been saved by a pathology test first appeared on Know Pathology Know Healthcare.