True origin of new mid-west mystery illness....

[righteousdude2]

Harvard begs to disagree.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0803b.shtml

I know what you said is true. I just finished my second term as chairman of the county health department childrens disease and vaccination advisory committee. As chair of the committee, I was privileged to what was happening, not only in our county but in the nation, and county health departments nationwide have concerns about diseases being brought across the border.

We have seen a resurgence in Whooping Cough and TB to name a few! This newest respiratory disease is one more whooping cough like problem!

Although, there are naysayers on this board. The truth can't, and shouldn't be ignored! :type:

 

[annsni]

Link says respiratory illnesses are contagious, but does not say they are "diseases".

I could be mistaken but I've always thought of a disease as something that is chronic and affects an organ or organs in the body. For example, asthma is a disease of the lung airways. What these children experienced was a viral infection, not a disease.

I fully admit that I don't know for sure if a respiratory illness is a contagious disease, but it seems to me that catching a virus is not the same as having a disease. I'm willing to learn if anybody can show links to some definitions.

A disease can be chronic or acute. Dictionary.com says:

disease: a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

From medterms.com
disease: Illness or sickness characterized by specific signs and symptoms.