1. TOP TEN DEADLIEST
DISEASES
BY :Tahsim Akram

2. Syphilis
Shypillis
Spiral shaped organisms responsible for causing Syphillis

3. The 10th deadliest disease in the modern world is
syphilis.
Infection rate: 12.2 million diagnosed cases
worldwide.
What is it?: Syphilis is as widespread as it is
deadly. Transmitted through sexual contact, 12.2
million people worldwide are diagnosed with the
disease, not counting undiagnosed cases. That
number continuous to grow as you read this list.
Syphilis can also be transmitted from an infected
mother to a newborn infant directly, without physical
contact. And while the disease is prevalent
worldwide, syphilis occurs mostly in Southeast Asia,
Saharan Africa, and Latin America—in that order. If
you’re going to get STD, don’t get syphilis.
Death rate: 157,000 deaths every year.

4. Meningitis
A bacteria that can cause Meningitis

5. The 9th deadliest disease in the modern world is the common
meningitis.
Infection rate: More than 1 million people contract some form of
meningitis every year.
What is it?: Meningitis is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, not
just in terms of death rate, but in life after full recovery as well. A fatal
infection covers the brain and the spinal cord area. Even with early
diagnosis and immediate treatment, 5 to 10 percent of patients die,
worth noting considering the advances in modern medical technology.
In addition—as if this isn’t enough bad news already—10 to 20
percent of patients who have fully recovered suffer from hearing loss,
brain damage, or learning disability.
Death rate: 174,000 deaths every year.

6. Tetanus
An SEM of the bacteria that causes tetanus

7. The 8th deadliest disease in the modern world is tetanus.
Infection rate: 500,000 diagnosed cases every year.
What is it?: Tetanus easily beats meningitis and syphilis with its
high infection rate and death toll. You see, the clostridium tetani
spores—the tetanus bacteria—live in the soil, and so are
present everywhere. Something as simple as a small cut or a
wound can infect you with the disease several days after
coming in contact with a dirty surface. Countries in Southeast
Asia and Saharan Africa bear the brunt of the disease with
82,000 and 84,000 yearly deaths respectively, though tetanus
infection can be found worldwide.
Death rate: 214,000 deaths every year.

8. Whooping Cough
The bacteria that causes whooping cough

9. The 7th deadliest disease in the modern world is the
whooping cough.
Infection rate: 20 to 40 million diagnosed cases
every year.
What is it?: The whooping cough, or pertussis, silly
as its sounds, is a very deadly disease. It is highly
contagious and, once a person is infected, the illness
is capable of causing a host of acute respiratory
diseases on a person. What seems like an ordinary
cough can kill you. Whooping cough can be treated
with antibiotics, but vaccines are still the way to go
for optimum immunity.
Death rate: 200,000 to 300,000 deaths every year.

10. Measeles
The measles virus

11. The 6th deadliest disease in the modern world is measles.
Infection rate: More than 30 million people, mostly
children, are infected every year.
What is it?: Measles can be easily cured but are deadly if
left untreated. The disease occurs mostly in children,
especially in developing countries like Africa and some in
Southeast Asia, but the measles virus can infect even
adults. Measles can cause brain damage, blindness, and
leave children susceptible to diarrhea and pneumonia. Did
you know that an estimated 1,400 people die from
measles every day? Immunization only costs $1 a child.
Death rate: Roughly 530,000 deaths every year.

12. Tuberculosis
The bacteria that causes Tuberculosis

13. The 5th deadliest disease in the modern world is tuberculosis.
Infection rate: 2 billion people are diagnosed with TB every year.
What is it?: Fact: TB kills millions of people every year. Fact: 1/3 of the
world’s population is infected. But even with all these facts, new TB cases
are still being diagnoses year after year. It’s as if people don’t really care
anymore about contracting the disease. Symptoms of TB include chills,
fever, chronic cough, weakness, and weight loss. It is highly contagious, and
can be spread through sneezing and coughing. It is no doubt one of the
deadliest diseases in the world in terms of death rate.
Death rate: 2 million deaths every year.

14. Diarrhea
The bacteria that can cause diarrhea

15. The 4th deadliest disease in the modern world is diarrhea.
Infection rate: 4 billion diagnosed cases every year.
What is it?: What is diarrhea? Have you ever had acute stomach pains
accompanied with the urge to use the toilet more often than usual?
Then you have experienced diarrhea. Often diarrhea is caused by
cholera, dysentery, and a host of other bacterial infections like
microscopic worms. Diarrhea is easily cured if treated early. Most
diarrhea-related deaths, particularly in children, are associated with
extreme dehydration.
Death rate: Roughly 2.2 million deaths every year.

16. Malaria
The virus affecting the human blood

17. The 3rd deadliest disease in the world is the infamous malaria.
Infection rate: 300 to 515 million people diagnosed cases every
year, a huge portion of whom are in Africa.
What is it?: Malaria is transmitted by the deadliest animal in the
world known to man: the female anopheles mosquito. In fact,
malaria isn’t even transferable through physical contact, but still
it accounts for millions of deaths worldwide every year. If that
isn’t deadly enough for you, I don’t know what is. Statistics
reveal that every 30 seconds an African child dies from malaria.
Damn mosquitoes! (Tips on how to repel mosquitoes)
Death rate: 1 to 5 million deaths every year.

18. HIV/AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus

19. The 2nd deadliest disease in the modern world is HIV/AIDS.
Infection rate: Roughly 39.4 million people are living with AIDS.
What is it?: This disease needs no introduction. The HIV, or
human immunodeficiency virus, does nothing more than erode a
person’s immune system, rendering the patient susceptible to
other infections. AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,
usually follows through within 8 to 15 years unless the patient
receives treatment. Oftentimes, the patient dies of TB or
pneumonia following the AIDS infection.
Death rate: Some 3 million deaths in 2004.

20. Lower Respiratory Infection
Infectious pneumonias

21. The deadliest disease in the modern world are a host of lower respiratory
infections.
What are they?: Lower respiratory infections include pneumonia and other
sickness of the lungs, bronchial tubes or windpipe. It’s hard to believe but it’s
true—lower respiratory infections far outnumber the death toll for AIDS and
malaria worldwide. Surprised?
Death rate: More than 4 million deaths every year.
In all, these diseases account for nearly half or more than half of fatalities
worldwide every year. Scientists are working very hard to research the illnesses
and develop new vaccines. Until cures are found for all, prevention is the best way
to go.