1. World problems
  2. Human deficiency diseases

Human deficiency diseases

  • Nutritional diseases
  • Micronutrient deficiencies
  • Micronutrient imbalances

Nature

Inadequate nutrition is a self-evident cause of ill health, and a major contributor to the high death rate among infants and young children in developing countries. The lack of basic micronutrients affects brain development in the foetus and infants during the first two years of life. This is often irreversible, lowering IQ and affecting cognitive levels. Micronutrient deficiencies in humans have been recognized by the WHO as the world's most important primary health care problem.

Incidence

At least two billion people in the world are deficient in one or several micronutrients. Over the past 30 years of the Green Revolution, which has improved dietary energy consumption of most of the world's population, the percentages of women and children who suffer from nutrient deficiencies in many developing countries has actually increased. These nutrient deficiencies are compounded by parasitic and infectious diseases, water and air pollution, land degradation, and in affluent areas of developing countries, by the increasing incidence of diabetes and heart disease.

Particularly in developing countries, people whose staple diet is cereals or cassava are dangerously low in micronutrients such as iron, zinc, iodine and Vitamin A. The most serious dietary deficiencies are: protein-calorie malnutrition (because of its high mortality rate, its wide prevalence and the irreversible physical and mental damage it may cause); xerophthalmia, vitamin A deficiency, (because of its contribution to mortality of malnourished children, its relatively wide prevalence and the dramatic irreversible damage it causes, namely blindness); nutritional anaemias, iron deficiency anaemia and megaloblastic anaemias (because of their wide distribution, their contribution to mortality from many other conditions and their effects on working capacity); endemic goitre, iodine deficiency, (because of its wide distribution). In some specific areas of the world, other nutritional problems such as beriberi, vitamin B1 deficiency; pellagra, nicotinic acid deficiency associated with protein deficiency; or rickets, vitamin D deficiency, may be of considerable importance.

Claim

Human deficiency diseases represent a critical and often overlooked public health crisis. These conditions, stemming from inadequate nutrition and lack of essential vitamins and minerals, lead to severe health consequences, including stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased mortality rates. Addressing this issue is not just a matter of individual health; it impacts entire communities and economies. We must prioritize education, access to nutritious food, and healthcare to combat these preventable diseases and ensure a healthier future for all.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

While human deficiency diseases may seem concerning, they are largely overstated in today's world. With advancements in nutrition, healthcare, and education, most populations have access to essential vitamins and minerals. The focus should shift to more pressing global issues, such as climate change and economic inequality, rather than fixating on deficiencies that can often be easily addressed. Overemphasizing these diseases distracts from tackling the real challenges facing humanity today.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Narrower

Pellagra
Presentable
Noma
Presentable
Dehydration
Presentable
Scurvy
Yet to rate

Aggravates

Aggravated by

Air pollution
Excellent
Achlorhydria
Excellent
Malnutrition
Presentable
Heart disorders
Presentable

Related

Strategy

Value

Rights
Yet to rate
Inhumanity
Yet to rate
Imbalance
Yet to rate
Disease
Yet to rate
Deficiency
Yet to rate

Reference

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #1: No PovertySustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-beingSustainable Development Goal #10: Reduced Inequality

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
  • Health care » Nutrition
  • Mankind » Human
  • Medicine » Pathology
  • Societal problems » Deprivation
  • Societal problems » Imbalances
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    1A4N
    D0287
    DOCID
    11402870
    D7NID
    141397
    Last update
    May 19, 2022