Ills as Old as Time

CEBU, Philippines - The field of modern medicine - like all areas of research and study - has its share of knowns, unknowns and "known unknowns."

From the common cold to diabetes, here's a quick look at three of the medical field's endearing "known unknowns" - illnesses and afflictions that can be described as human society's "ills as old as time."

The Common Cold

Defined in medical books as a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract, the common cold is widely viewed as one of pathology's age-old "mysteries," as characterized by the fact that there is still no cure for it - only treatments for its symptoms, which includes sore throat, runny nose, coughing and, occasionally, fever.

Also known as "head cold," rhinopharyngitis or nasopharyngitis, there are a number of virus strains associated with the common cold, and - in terms of preventive measures - the proper washing of hands and regular ablutions are widely considered to be highly effective against its stings.

In the context of age and antiquity, the Ebers Papyrus - the world's oldest medical text that dates back to 1550 BC - describes symptoms that are indicative of the condition and presents recommended treatments, saying something about just how old the common cold is as a viral infectious disease - given the fact that the text was written back in the glory days of Ancient Egypt.

Diabetes

Diabetes - formally known as diabetes mellitus - is defined as a metabolic disease that stems from the body's inability to produce insulin or properly respond to insulin produced by the body.

As a condition, the disease is associated with high blood sugar levels, affecting the health and lifestyles of an estimated 382 million individuals worldwide as of 2013 (as noted by the 12th Edition of Williams Textbook of Endocrinology).

As one of the world's age old ills, there are a number of historical references that talks about the condition.

Most historians agree that the earliest work that describes diabetes in detail was drafted by Aretaeus of Cappadocia in the 2nd or early 3rd Century, though the term "diabetes" (or "to pass through") was first used by the Greek Appollonius of Memphis in 230 BC.

Indian physicians, sometime around 1500 BC, are known to have used the term madhumeha ("honey urine") in describing the condition, in reference to how ants were attracted to the urine of those affected by the metabolic affliction. An ancient Egyptian manuscript that dates back to 1500 BC is also known to describe an affliction that is characterized by diabetes' symptoms.

Like the common cold, a cure for diabetes has not yet been found, though there have been a number of medical advances and breakthroughs in its prevention and treatment.

Halitosis

Medical texts note that halitosis is not exactly a condition, but is rather a symptom of a condition caused by the presence of bacteria below the mouth's gum line and the back of the tongue.

In the arena of semantics, it is generally accepted as the formal alternative to the term "bad breath."

As the symptom of a prevailing condition, different medical texts note that halitosis is rarely caused by serious underlying afflictions - though cases of liver failure, disorders in the throat, lungs, esophagus, stomach, sinuses and nasal cavity are known to include bad breath as a symptom.

Halitosis also has a very long history, being one of the conditions mentioned in the Ebers Papyrus - where remedies generally made from cinnamon, myrrh, honey and other ingredients are jotted down - making bad breath as one of mankind's oldest ills. (FREEMAN)