Chronic diseases and cancers linked to infectious microbes
diseaseMany chronic diseases and cancers are associated with infectious microbes. By this it is meant that the associated microbe is found in the tissues of patients with the disease more frequently than in the bodies of healthy people. When a microbe such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan or archaeon has since been linked to a disease, researchers may start to investigate whether that microbe might be the underlying cause of the disease, or might play a causal role in the illness in conjunction with other causal factors.
Overview§
Many chronic diseases and cancers are associated with infectious microbes. By this it is meant that the associated microbe is found in the tissues of patients with the disease more frequently than in the bodies of healthy people. When a microbe such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, protozoan or archaeon has since been linked to a disease, researchers may start to investigate whether that microbe might be the underlying cause of the disease, or might play a causal role in the illness in conjunction with other causal factors.
Other causal factors in chronic diseases and cancers§
Other potential causal factors that may play a role in precipitating chronic diseases and cancers are: environmental toxins, radiations, genetics, epigenetics, events during pregnancy, stress, diet, and lifestyle factors. Chronic diseases and cancers are generally assumed to be multifactorial, meaning that the disease is only precipitated when multiple factors are present. For example: in a murine model of Crohn's disease, this illness can be precipitated by a norovirus, but only when a specific gene variant is present, along with a certain toxin which damages the gut.
Economic costs of chronic diseases§
In the USA, 90% of the $4.9 trillion annual healthcare budget goes on chronic diseases and mental illnesses.
List of chronic diseases and cancers associated with infectious microbes§
The list below includes some of the more common chronic diseases and cancers that have been associated with infectious microbes.
Further sources
- 1.Chronic diseases and cancers linked to infectious microbes — Wikipedia — Wikimedia Foundation