ACQUIRED DISEASES DEVELOP AFTER BIRTH

INFECTIOUS OR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

          These diseases are caused by various infectious or pathogenic organisms viz. bacteria, virus, protozoa and fungi. Infectious agents are spread through air, contaminated food, water, physical contact or vectors, e.g., smallpox, polio, dengue, cholera, tuberculosis, etc.

NON-INFECTIOUS OR NON-COMMUNICABLE OR DEGENERATIVE DISEASES

          These are caused by malfunctioning of some organ or organ-system in the body. E.g., Heart attack, Arthritis, Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, etc.

DEFICIENCY DISEASES

         These are caused due to deficiency of certain nutrients, minerals or vitamins, e.g., Kwashiorkor, Rickets, Goiter, Xerophthalmia, Beriberi, Scurvy, etc.

ALLERGIES

           These diseases are caused due to hyper sensitivity of a person to some substances viz. drugs, dust, pollen, etc.

CANCER

          This is caused due to uncontrolled and uncoordinated growth of normal cells or tissues, e.g., cancer of colon, Leukemia, etc.

ACUTE DISEASES

           These diseases last only for a short duration, e.g., cold or cough.

CHRONIC DISEASES

         These diseases last for longer duration, even for a life-time, e.g., chromic heart disease or blood pressure, etc.

           Two new types of diseases can be added to this development. These are listed below.

DISEASES CAUSED DUE TO POLLUTION

           This class of diseases is highly varied ranging from simple irritation to more serious respiratory disorders, emplysema, allergies, cancer, etc. (from air pollution); to diarrhoea, cholera, etc. (from water pollution); to loss of hearing, heart diseases, or hypertension (from noise pollution), to skin cancer, and even death (from  nuclear or radiation pollution); etc.