Top 10 leading causes of Morbidity and Mortality in the Philippines

Mortality in demographic usage, the frequent of death in a population.

Morbidity refers to having a disease or a symptom of disease, or to the amount of disease within a
population.

Top 10 leading causes of Morbidity and Mortality in the Philippines

MORBIDITY: Ten (10) Leading Causes
DISEASES 2010
Number Rate

1. Acute respiratory infection 1,289,168 1371.3

2. Acute lower respiratory tract 586,186 632.5
infection and pneumonia
3. Bronchitis/Bronchiolitis 351,126 373.5
4. Hypertension 345,412 367.4
5. Acute watery diarrhea 326,551 347.3
6. Influenza 272,001 289.3
7. Urinary Tract Infection 83,569 88.9
8. Pulmonary Tuberculosis 72,516 77.1
9. Injuries 51,201 54.5
10. Diseases of the heart 37,589 40.0

MORTALITY: TEN (10) LEADING CAUSES NUMBER AND RATE/100,000 POPULATION

Philippines
5-Year Average (2004 2008) & 2009

CAUSES 5-Year Average 2009*

(2004 2008)

Number Rate Number Rate

1. Diseases of the Heart 82,290 94.5 100,908 109.4

2. Diseases of the Vascular System 55,999 64.3 65,489 71.0
3. Malignant Neoplasms 43,185 49.6 47,732 51.8
4. Pneumonia 35,756 41.1 42,642 46.2
5. Accidents** 34,704 39.9 35,990 39.0
6. Tuberculosis, all forms 25,376 29.2 25,470 27.6
7. Chronic lower respiratory diseases 20,830 24.0 22,755 24.7
8. Diabetes Mellitus 19,805 22.7 22,345 24.2
9. Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and
nephrosis 11,612 13.4 13,799 15.0
10. Certain conditions originating in the
perinatal period 12,590 14.5 11,514 12.5

Note: Excludes ill-defined and unknown causes of mortality

* reference year
** External causes of Mortality

Which do you usually prefer to eat in your meal?

Meat Fish and Veggies

Eating habits – A high consumption of meat can be linked to a high rate of heart disease.

General Methods of Disease Prevention and Control

Primary Prevention
 Use sunblock, hat, and umbrella (to avoid UV rays)
 Immunization (to avoid acute infection disease)
 Minimizing contamination of our environment by asbestos, dust, smoke, toxic chemicals and
possessive noise

Secondary Prevention
 Doctor checks for suspicious skin growths
 Public education
 Screening programs for hypertension, diabetes, and STDs
 Undergoing pap smear for uterine cancer, and mammography for breast cancer

Tertiary Prevention
 Slow down the disease
 To avoid implication
 Make the disease people become healthy again
 Health supervision

Specific Preventive Measures

 Have a healthy diet
 Practice good personal hygiene
 Wash hands often
 Use gloves, masks, apron when exposed to infectious agent
 Proper waste disposal
  Have regular medical vaccines and immunizations

Common Communicable Diseases

Prevention and Control of Common Communicable Diseases
What is Communicable Diseases?
Communicable (also called infectious) diseases are so called due to their potential of transmission from
one person or species to another. Transmission of an infectious diseases may occur through one or more
of diverse pathways including physical contact with infected individuals. These infecting agents may also
be transmitted through liquids, food, body fluids, etc.

Influenza (Flu)
 A contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza
viruses
 Can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to
death
 Prevent the spread of germs

Aspirin – a drug that is contraindicated when managing the symptoms of a child who has the flu

Reye Syndrome – It is an extremely serious pathological condition associated with swelling of liver and
brain

 Get vaccinated
 Take everyday precautions
 Undergo preventive antiviral medication

Everyday Steps to take in your life to protect yourself from flu

1. Wash hands often with soap and water.
2. Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
3. Get plenty of sleep and exercise.
4. Drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
5. Avoid close contact with sick people.
6. Cover your nose and mouth with clean handkerchief or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose
the uses tissue properly.
7. When you start to feel the symptoms of flu, stay at home for at least 24 hours after your fever is
gone.
Pneumonia and bronchitis can be prevented by practicing good hygiene and stopping the spread of
germs. Pneumonia is the most common complication of influenza.

 Cover your mouth and nose with hanky/tissue when you cough/sneeze
 Wash hands regularly
 Have yourself vaccinated
 Wash hands regularly

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack
the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

 Always cover the mouth when coughing

 Take all medications as required
 Get shot with Tuberculosis vaccine (BCG or bacilli Calmette-Guerin)

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite. The parasite is spread to humans through the bites of infected
mosquitoes. People who have malaria usually feel very sick with a high fever and shaking chills. While the
disease is uncommon in temperate climates, malaria is still common in tropical and subtropical countries.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The primary
vectors that transmit the disease are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and, to a lesser extent, Ae. albopictus.
The virus responsible for causing dengue, is called dengue virus (DENV)

 Eliminate standing waters near canals

 Change water in flower vases regularly/weekly to discard eggs
 Cover drums used to collect and hold rainwater
 Use door and window screens to reduce indoor mosquitoes
 Use mosquito repellent
 Wear long pants and long sleeves for additional protection from mosquitoes

STD/STI
Sexually Transmitted Disease/Sexually Transmitted Infection
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), also called sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are infections that
spread from person to person through sexual activity, including anal, vaginal, or oral sex. STDs are caused
by bacteria, parasites, and viruses.

TYPES OF STI/STDS
Bacterial Viral Parasitic
 Chlamydia  Genital herpes/ Herpes Simplex  Trichomoniasis
 Gonorrhea Type II (HSV-2)
 Syphilis  HIV/AIDS
 Genital warts/Venereal warts
 Bacterial

Chlamydia
 1-2 weeks after contact with an infected person
 Symptoms: resemble gonorrhea
 Can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (women) and
sterility (men and women)

Gonorrhea
 Comes from the Greek words Gonos (seed) and
rhoia (flow)
 Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae due to
intimate body contact
 Treated by penicillin injections and antibiotics

Syphilis
 Caused by bacterium Treponema
pallidum
 More serious than gonorrhea
 Dies a few seconds outside the human body and thus
transmitted by direct sexual contact

Viral
Genital Herpes/Herpes Simplex Type II (HSV-2)
 can cause painful blisters or ulcers
at the site of infection, ranging
from mild to severe
 Infection is lifelong, and symptoms
can recur over many years

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Disorder)

 Destroy the white blood cells that fight infection
 AIDS – final/worst stage

Symptoms (Genital Warts)

1. Raised, flesh-colored lumps or bumps
2. Corrugated (cauliflower-like) appearance
3. They appear anywhere on the body
4. Caused by direct sexual contact with a person having HIV

Trichomoniasis
 Caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis
 Symptoms: itching in the genital area, bad smelling thin vaginal

 HIV is the beginning stage of a disease that can progress into AIDS.
 HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids, including blood, breastmilk, seminal, vaginal, or rectal
fluids.
 It is commonly transmitted through unprotected sex, shared needles, during the birthing process,
or through breastfeeding.

HIV compromises the host’s immune system by attacking healthy cells to reproduce the virus within
the body If it is caught early enough, the person’s HIV viral load (number of viral cells within the blood)
can be controlled through HIV treatment options However, if it is not monitored or managed through
medication, the person’s immune system can eventually become permanently damaged This leads to
HIV’s progression into AIDS

PREVENTION IS BEST
 Sexual abstinence (never having vaginal, anal, or oral sex) is the only way to eliminate any chance
of getting an STD
 Be faithful or have a monogamous relationship
 Do not share needles/sterilized needles
 Educate and inform people