Diseases of the Respiratory System

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that is easily passed between people when bacteria enter one’s body through breathing. The bacteria population grow inside a person’s lungs and can spread to other parts of the body. Some symptoms of Tuberculosis are chest pain, fever, coughing and weight loss.  Tuberculosis can be fatal if not treated in time.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in both males and females.  Tobacco smoke contains carcinogens that can cause cancer of not only the lungs but also the mouth, bladder, larynx and pancreas.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) originated in China, but has spread to over 35 countries across the world. In Canada, around 440 people are infected and roughly 10% die each year. To identify SARS, a chest x-ray is taken to look for pneumonia.  Symptoms of SARS are high fevers, influenza symptoms, dry coughing, sore throat, muscle pain, exhaustion, and short breathing.