Is lou gehrig's disease infectious? what are the main causes of this disease?

Albion

it is genetic and not infectiousor patients without a family history of the disease, which includes ~95% of cases, there is no known cause for ALS. There is a known hereditary factor in familial ALS (FALS), where the condition is known to run in families, although this only accounts for around 5% of all cases. An inherited genetic defect on chromosome 21 (coding for superoxide dismutase) is associated with approximately 20% of familial cases of ALS.[4][5] This mutation is believed to be autosomal dominant. The most common ALS causing SOD1 mutation in North America is A4V, characterized by an exceptionally rapid progression from onset to death. The children of those diagnosed with familial ALS have a higher risk factor for developing the disease; however, those who have close family members who have been diagnosed with sporadic ALS have no greater a risk factor than the general population, suggesting again an environmental or other non-genetic cause.[6]Some environmental causative factors have been suggested for the increased incidence in the western Pacific. Prolonged exposure to a dietary neurotoxin called BMAA is one suspected risk factor in Guam;[7] this neurotoxin produced by cyanobacteria is one of several possible neurotoxic compounds found in the seed of the cycad Cycas circinalis,[8] a tropical plant found in Guam, which was used in the human food supply during the 1950s and early 1960s. The very high incidence of the disease among Italian soccer players (more than five times higher than normally expected) has raised the concern of a possible link between the disease and the use of pesticides on the soccer fields (several of which have been linked to neuronal toxicity).[9][10] A 2004 Italian study trying to link a high incidence of ALS in soccer players to Performance Enhancing Drugs failed when the group was compared to cyclists that also used PEDs and had zero ALS. A possible conclusion was that soccer player receive frequent head trauma (heading the ball, falls and collisions in most games) compared to the cyclist group who wears head protection and rarely have falls.[11][12]According to the ALS Association, veterans of the United States military are at an increased risk of contracting ALS (again, possibly implying a link to neurotoxic chemical exposure). In its report ALS in the Military,[13] the group pointed to an almost 60% greater chance of the disease in military veterans than the general population. For Gulf War veterans, the chance is seen as twice that of veterans not deployed to the Persian Gulf in a joint study by the Veterans Affairs Administration and the DOD, another epidemiologic association suggesting a link to toxic exposure.[14][15][16]A 2010 study has raised questions about the diagnosis of ALS in some veterans and athletes, suggesting that repeated concussions may cause a chronic traumatic encephalopathy that mimics ALS; this might explain the higher rate of ALS diagnoses in those populations.[unreliable medical s

What is wagleri fowleri? infectious disease?

Dalton

I am in human bio at school in 10th grade and i am doing a project on an infectious disease and got assigned to wagleri fowleri...is that a real disease? i cant find information on it please give me as much information as possible thanksss <3



Richboro

i searched about this DISEASE in all of my medical books i couldn't find it,,,, sorry :(Are you sure about the name???

Is pneumonia an infectious disease?

Swissvale

Yes, pneumonia is infectious, and it can be life threatening. It can be either bacterial or viral. Bacterial pneumonia can usually be successfully treated using antibiotics. Viral pneumonia requires rest and good diet to help the body fight off the infection; and antibiotics are sometimes useful in treating opportunistic bacterial infections that may strike while the body's defenses are low. Both are most serious in the very young and the elderly and in those with compromised immune systems. If pneumonia is suspected - or in the case of any continuing respiratory illness such as coughing or wheezy breathing - , professional health care such as at an urgent care facility should be sought quickly. To prevent spread of the bacteria or virus, cover your cough or sneeze (into your elbow), and clean your hands very often, preferrably using an alcohol-based hand cleaner.



Port Orchard

No.



La Grange

Yes. As a matter of fact the very young and old (over 60 yoa) should receive a vaccination once a year, in the fall. Check with your Doctor or local health unit.