Victorian Diseases are back
By Gurdeep Hundal
Illnesses such as tuberculosis, typhoid and rickets may beckon visions of soiled street rogues and macabre plagues, but doctors are warning that Victorian diseases may be returning to London.
Rare infectious diseases including whooping cough, scarlet fever and typhoid have soared by 166 per cent in the past two years, with the number of cases of mumps, rising from 125 in 2007 to 393 last year.
Worried? I think we should be, as these infectious rates in the capital are soaring by the minute, even though they are easily prevented with vaccines and clean hygiene.
So, I have decided to explain why we are breaking into our ancestors’ habits, and how we can be ridden of these futile illnesses – despite our medical breakthroughs.
The primary causes have not changed much since Charles Dickens era, but new factors have emerged, such as immigration, rising obesity rates, and the decision of some parent refusing the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Tuberculosis (TB) is the highest among immigrants from Africa where the disease is common, through low standards of living – which causes fever, weight loss, chronic coughing, fatigue and sweating.
Rickets is common within British children who suffer from a lack of vitamin D, which causes aches and pains in the bones and joints and leaves sufferers with bow legs.
While, gout is most commonly associated with obesity and is caused by uric acid on the joints and tissue, causing them to swell or become painful – this is noticeable in the big toe and lower limbs.
Measles and Mumps are the most contagious and lethal children’s diseases – which are rising rapidly by some parents choosing not to give their children the MMR jab.
And finally, Syphilis is transmitted sexually or from mother to child and the condition can lead to flu-like symptoms, followed eventually by insanity, heart problems and possibly death.
As a nation of dirty buggers, we are need of sprucing our act, by remaining clean and safe!
Tags: Conservatives, Department of Health, Dr Colin Michie, Government, illnesses, London, measles, MMR jab, mumps, rare infections, scarlet fever, slum dog, tuberculosis, Victorian diseases, whooping cough
