International health pertains to the health in the context of the entire world and emphasizes concerns of individual nations. as well as disease control that cross over national borders. The main goal of international health is the overall improvement of health, and the prevention and immunization of global threats that may cross over national borders.
Over the years there have been many health concerns that have escalated to threaten the economic and overall stability of the entire globe. Actions to help situations when a global health concern arises includes initiatives to help prevent the spread of the disease and research to discover medicine and vaccines to cure it.
1. Tuberculosis:
In adults, tuberculosis has had a rise in adult mortality and morbidity, especially due to health declines caused by HIV. Tuberculosis is usually spread through the air when people who have the disease cough or sneeze. If left untreated, it can be fatal to more than half of its victims. A third of the world’s population has been infected with M. tuberculosis.
Immunization:
Immunization for children is common for tuberculosis, however, there are no vaccines for adults. The World Health Organization declared it a global health emergency in 1993. Eradication of tuberculosis through immunization research is possible, as humans are the only known carrier of the disease. Development of further immunizations is still making progress. Many promising vaccines are in late stages of research, such as the MVA85A vaccine, currently in phase II trails in South Africa, led by a team at Oxford University.
Treatment:
Tuberculosis is treated using antibiotics although it is very difficult due to the structure and chemical composition of the disease. Tuberculosis requires longer than usual treatment cycles to help improve the health of patients; usually taking about six to twenty-four months. People who have latent tuberculosis are treated so that their health does not advance to active tuberculosis.
2. Measles:
Measles is a major global health concern. It is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the paramyxovirus. Symptoms of this disease include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes. Measles is highly contagious, spreading to other people through fluids from the nose and mouth. Other health concerns from measles is diarrhea, pneumonia, and encephalitis.
Immunization:
Immunization of measles is very common within developed countries by the age of 18 months. A second dose of the vaccine may be given at the age of 4 or 5. The World Health Organization recommends that countries where measles is highly endemic should administer two doses of immunizations to children of six months and nine months of age.
Treatment:
There is currently no cure for measles. Almost all patients who have a mild version of measles will recover to full health with proper rest and care. However, pneumonia may occur as a result of measles.
3. Malaria
Malaria is an one of the most common of infectious diseases caused by parasites transmitted by mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, headaches, chills, and nausea.
Immunization:
There are no effective immunizations for malaria currently. If an individual is bitten from irradiated mosquitoes, it will increase the chances of immunization.
Treatment:
There are several drugs used to treat malaria. Chloroquine was very effective until recently, when malaria was spread from Asia to Africa making the drug ineffective. Prophylaxis is given in large doses to improve the health of malaria victims.