Diseases & Conditions

Diseases & Conditions

Diseases & Conditions Skip to main content About IDPH Diseases and Conditions Infectious Diseases The Division of Infectious Diseases mission is to protect people from infectious diseases through disease surveillance, analysis, immunization, and education. The division is organized into the Communicable Diseases, HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Immunization sections. Several of these sections work together on Viral Hepatitis initiatives. Infectious Respiratory Disease Infectious diseases are caused by germs - viruses, bacteria, or other pathogenic microbes. Germs that can infect the respiratory system - lungs, throat, airways - can often be spread through mucus and saliva (also known as "respiratory secretions") expelled when a person coughs, sneezes, talks or laughs Cancer Cancer is a common disease, more common than many people realize. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 1 in 2 men in the United States has a lifetime risk of developing cancer; for women, the lifetime risk is 1 in 3. The number of people with cancer is increasing in most communities because more people are living to the age of greatest cancer occurrence. Arthritis What is arthritis? The term arthritis refers to about 120 different diseases that can affect the joints, muscles and other soft tissues. The three most common forms are osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis, affecting an estimated 21 million adults in this country. Diabetes Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that poses a major health problem. Nearly 30.3 million people in the United States (9.4% of the population) have diabetes. About one-third of these people do not know they have diabetes. Each year, 1.5 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed. In Illinois, approximately 1.3 million (12.5% of the population) adults have diabetes, but Heart & Stroke Diseases of the Heart and Stroke: Illinois’ Leading Killers Heart disease and stroke are, respectively, the first and third leading causes of death, and also the major causes of disability in Illinois. In 2017 there were 25,393 deaths in Illinois due to heart disease and 6,021 deaths due to stroke. Deaths due heart disease and stroke combined (31,414) represent almost 29 Asthma What is asthma? Asthma is a condition that affects the airways. It makes it hard to breathe because the airways become swollen, produce too much mucus and the muscles around the airways tighten. Asthma can range from mild to severe and can be life threatening. It is recognized that in some families, inherited factors play a role in an individual's risk for asthma. If a parent, Diseases A-Z List An alphabetical listing of common diseases and conditions, both chronic and infectious, that affect the everyday lives of Illinois residents. Measles Measles is a serious, highly contagious disease caused by a virus. The virus is spread easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or by direct contact with infected nose or throat secretions. The best protection against measles is vaccination. Tickborne Illnesses In the United States, ticks can spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites (pathogens) that cause human diseases. Ticks transmit pathogens that cause disease through the process of feeding. Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against tickborne diseases. Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). If you find a tick attached to your skin, simply remove the tick as soon as possible. Many tickborne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms. If you develop a rash or fever within several days to weeks after removing a tick, see your doctor. HIV/AIDS HIV remains a serious infectious disease in the world and here in Illinois. The good news is that there has been a great advance in knowledge and the development of effective tools to prevent infections and to prolong and improve quality of life for persons living with HIV. These next few pages provide information that begins with HIV education, testing, care, and support Viral Hepatitis Hepatitis is defined as an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is commonly caused by a virus. The most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. There are two other types, Hepatitis D and Hepatitis E, which are more common in other countries. To learn more about Hepatitis, see the Resources section. For data and statistics specific to Hepatitis, see IQuery Mpox Illinois MPV cases include all probable and confirmed cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) numbers may not match due to differences in reporting timeframes. All numbers displayed are provisional and subject to change.