HACKER Q&A
📣 eth0up

Ubiquitous Less-Conspicuous Infectious Diseases


In attempt to expand a list of ubiquitous and less conspicuous infectious diseases, especially those with significant asymptomatic instances and therefore less public awareness, I hope to extend that below with help -- preferably with a focus on extant or emergent (possibly future pandemic), more pan rather than endemic examples. I've embellished some with notes, and some of that listed below may not quite (yet?) deserve the title of Ubiquitous, or necessarily, a place in the list itself, though I've italicized some that do. Due to the popular awareness and many extensive discussions on corona viruses, please consider abstaining. Thanks in advance to those who share their knowledge.

###Approximate percent of infection for global population in parentheses - (%)

>H-Pylori (50%)

Extremely prevalent and often asymptomatic. All positive cases result in inflammation and increased risk of cancer. Treatment is complicated by biofilms and ubiquity of bacteria; eg raw vegetables, oral route via hands, shared utensils, etc. Previous antibiotic usage might increase vulnerability.

>Tuberculosis (25%)

Generally asymptomatic and non-infectious in latent stage, but quite pervasive and extremely easy to spread when active. Treatment requires an almost impractically long duration of antibiotics and resistance is a substantial risk.

>MRSA and fellow mutants (?%)

>Toxoplasma Gondii (50%?)

There have been a few interesting threads on HN, with a significant number of comments expressing surprise and previous ignorance of this terrible creature, specifically its proposed ability to alter behaviour in hosts, including schizophrenia. Also notable are its presence in many households by route of cat (non-culinary) or rare beef (non-ornamental) and a typically dormant but voracious appetite for the heart and brain when inspired by circumstances.

>HPV (?%)

>Candida; eg Candida Auris (?%) - Emergent?

>C-Difficile (5%)

Although infectious, many may carry it asymptomatically until aggravated through antibiotics. Percentage of infected varies wildly, dependent on environment, eg hospitals. Complications have a significant mortality rate.

>Herpes Variants; eg EBV, etc. (?%)

>CJD Variants, TSE, etc. (?%)

I've included this due to zoonotic variants, eg CWD, Scrapie, BSE, etc. Worth noting is the unusually long dormancy potential of related diseases and absence of any treatment.

>Pinworms (11.4%) Incident Rate in USA and much higher elsewhere

Apparently a universal rite of passage

Finally, if I've presented something stupidly, constructive clarification is preferable to Hanlon's Truncheon. *Hanlon's Truncheon: Attribute malice to and hastily beat the living hell out of anything that seems unintelligent or confused.


  👤 a0-prw Accepted Answer ✓
Not sure if it meets your criterion of less conspicuous, but tuberculosis ? Wikipedia claims 25% of global population has latent TB which is definitely significant.