ELEPHANTIASIS 2:23:00 PM

Condition: Elephantiasis, or lymphatic filariasis, is a disfiguring condition caused by microscopic, parasitic worms. Currently, there are 120 million people infected, and one-third of those people are seriously incapacitated by it. It is most prevalent in Africa and Southeast Asia, especially in India. It is more common in men than in women, and in endemic communities, up to 50% of men and 10% of women may be affected.
Causes: The parasites are spread from human to human by mosquito bites. It is very common in poor, densely populated areas. Once inside the body, the worms and their offspring clog the lymphatic vessels causing an immune response and extreme swelling in the victim.
Effects: The effects of elephantiasis are extreme. The most visible effect is acute swelling primarily in the lower extremities, especially the legs, feet, and genitals. Swelling can also occur in the torso, arms, breasts, and even the face. In addition to the visible swelling, elephantiasis can damage internal organs as well. In many communities, there is a social stigma against those infected, and they often suffer from psychological and emotional issues.
Treatment: The treatment for elephantiasis is not clearly defined. However, a combination of drugs, which varies depending on the region, along with rigorous cleaning of the affected area has proved effective. Two drug companies, SmithKline Beecham and Merck, have collaborated with the World Health Organization, and have agreed to donate doses of their respective drugs, albendazole and ivermectin, until the disease is eradicated. Several other organizations have also joined the fight, and it is hoped that the disease will be completely eradicated by 2020.
Recent News about Elephantiasis:
New DNA Coding to Track Mosquitoes
Campaign to End Elephantiasis in Fiji Continues

If YOU want to do something about Elephantiasis, YOU can support these organizations:
The Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis
The Carter Center

DIARRHEA 8:51:00 PM

Condition: Diarrhea. Believe it or not, diarrhea causes over 2 million deaths per year. It is the second leading cause of death in children worldwide. Diarrhea is dangerous because it causes dehydration, an often fatal condition. It is most common in Southeast Asia and in Africa.
Causes: Diarrhea is caused by viral infections, parasites, or bacteria. These microorganisms are spread primarily through contaminated drinking water. Poor personal and food hygiene, lack of access to sanitation facilities, and lack of basic health education propagate the spread of the condition. Poverty is a major social factor that contributes to the spread of diarrhea, as it is most common in the developing world.
Effects: Dehydration is the most dangerous effect of diarrhea. When a person has frequent, loose bowel movements, they lose water, along with other important nutrients. Symptoms of dehydration include lethargy, headaches, decreased blood pressure, sunken eyes, wrinkled skin, and dimmed vision. Eventually, it is fatal.
Treatment: Obviously, the most effective treatment for diarrhea would be prevention. However, in many parts of the world where access to clean water is scarce, complete prevention would be nearly impossible. However, when a person is suffering from dehydration, the treatment is simple. It is called oral re-hydration therapy (ORT), and it consists of a pinch of salt, a handful of sugar, and a liter of water. In addition, zinc tablets have recently been found to play a significant role in treating diarrhea. Although prevention would be ideal, zinc, coupled with ORT, is an extremely cheap, simple, and effective treatment for diarrhea and subsequent dehydration. The cost is less than $0.30 per child, yet millions of children continue to die from this condition every year.

Recent News about Diarrhea:
Can One Pill Tame the Illness No One Wants to Talk About?
Diarrhea Death Toll Reaches 58 in Just One District in Nepal
Diarrhea, Still 2nd Leading Cause of Death Among Children

If YOU want to do something about Diarrhea, YOU can support these organizations:
Save the Children
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
U.S. Agency for International Development
Living Water International

OBSTETRIC FISTULA 8:48:00 PM

Condition: Obstetric fistula is a devastating injury that occurs during childbirth. During labor, a hole is formed between the vagina and the bladder. It occurs primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and in parts of Asia. Currently, over 2 million women are living with untreated obstetric fistula, and there 50,000-100,000 new cases each year.
Causes: The primary cause of obstetric fistula is prolonged and/or obstructed labor. When a baby is in the birth canal for a long period of time, the blood flow is cut off to the surrounding tissues, and they rot away. This causes a hole between the vagina and the bladder. The condition is more prevalent in areas where girls are married at young ages. Their bodies are not fully developed, and they are physically incapable of delivering a baby. Malnutrition also plays a role, as it prevents a woman's body from developing properly. Women who live in rural areas are also more prone to developing obstetric fistula. It may take days to travel to the nearest hospital, and the costs and logistics of transportation make it nearly impossible. Therefore, women may be in labor for several days with no access to a cesarean section. In many cases the baby dies, and the women are left with a devastating fistula. Social factors, such as poverty, cultural beliefs, lack of education about proper birthing procedures, and the role of women play a part as well.
Effects: Women with obstetric fistula are constantly leaking urine, which causes a very unpleasant odor. They are often times outcast by their families, because they are considered "unclean" and are sometimes made to live in isolation. The emotional toll is sometimes unbearable, and suicide is common among women with this condition.
Treatment: The treatment for obstetric fistula is a surgical repair of the hole. This surgery has a 90% success rate in uncomplicated cases. It costs about $300, however, which is impossible for many women. The lack of local doctors to perform the surgery is a problem, as well as lack of knowledge about the surgery. There are also various alternatives for women for whom the surgery doesn't work.
Recent news about Obstetric Fistula:
Women Under Obstetric Attack
Kenya: Campaigns Intensify to Eradicate Women's Disease
The Ugly Face of Fistula

If YOU want to do something about Obstetric Fistula, YOU can support these organizations:
UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund-End Fistula Campaign)
The Fistula Foundation
International Organization for Women and Development
The Fistula Care Project
Operation OF

RIVER BLINDNESS 2:09:00 PM

young children leading blind adults.

Disease: Onchocerciasis, more commonly known as River Blindness, is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in the world. It is an infection caused by a parasitic worm, and it is spread through the bite of the black fly. There are currently 37 million people infected with the parasite, and 99% of those people live in sub-Saharan Africa.
How it's spread: As the black fly (the vector) bites an infected person, the worms travel from the infected person to the body of the fly. The black fly then bites another person, and the worms travel from the fly to the second person. A person must be bitten more than once, however, to contract the infection. Once inside the body, the worms mate and create millions of offspring, which invade various parts of the body, including the eyes. As the offspring die off, the body has an inflammatory response. On the skin, this response causes severe rashes, and in the eyes, it causes blindness.
Effects: The social and economic effects of this infection are tremendous. Adults are unable to work because of visual impairment, and children are unable to go to school because they must help their parents. The cycle of poor education, poverty, and bad health continues, and entire communities ultimately suffer.
Cure: One dose per year of a drug called Ivermectin prevents the worms from reproducing in the body, and thus prevents the onset of symptoms and further transmission. The drug company Merck currently donates doses of the drug in many countries. To date, they have donated over 600 million doses. Although the treatment is so simple and economical, millions of people continue to suffer.
Recent news about River Blindness:
River Blindness Can Be Eradicated
River Blindness Can Be Stopped by Drugs

If YOU want to help do something about River Blindness, YOU can support these organizations:
The Carter Center
Helen Keller International (be sure to type in “Onchocerciasis” in the "Program to Support" field)
Living Water International

the introduction 6:35:00 PM

this blog is the result of our studies of issues facing people all over the world and our personal experiences in the developing world. we became very interested in these problems and hope to serve as advocates for human rights, especially the right to live. right now, we don't have the resources to combat them head on the way we would like to, but this blog is a way for us to do what we can to make a difference. we'll be updating it weekly with new health issues and new ways for you to help fight them.

thanks for trying life in the light.

kristen & dani