Eradication

[steveb]

On the news earlier they said "the disease rickets had been eradicated, but is now making a comeback". To me this sounded odd, can you eradicate a disease which isn't caused by a pathogen?

[Old_Geezer]

Eradicate just means to get rid of totally so yes one can. But with something that is caused by a deficiency, for example, it can change state and start again later.

[steveb]

Oh, I see, thanks for your answer.

[Peter Pedant]

think ex and radix

root-taken-out

so yes I agree small pox has been eradicated - I suppose it could make a return.

Vit D deficiency - could that be eradicated erm yeah
Heart disease ? - or aortic valve disease - yeah I agree there are some contexts where it may not be wrong but sounds distinctly odd

yours - the pedant

[ToraToraTora]

erridication of something is not relevant to it's cause.

[theprof]

Rickets has never and will never be eradicated. To begin with, it can be caused by diseases such as endocrine parathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcaemia, pancreatic insufficiency, chronic renal insufficiency, Fanconi Syndrome, certain drugs eg phenytoin, fluoride intoxication and aluminium intoxication. With regard to the latter, a good example is Camelford.

However, leaving all the latter to one side, there are other reasons Rickets will remain endemic. Lack of sunlight during November through March in certain latitudes (above 40 N and below 40 S) can cause the disease as can related issues such as complete skin covering by furs and other insulating clothing. Another cause is infrequently, people may have a mutation in 1 -hydroxylase, the enzyme that catalyzes the second and final step in vitamin D activation, or a resistance to vitamin D action in the tissues caused by mutations in the vitamin D receptor. The latter has to date, defied genetic manipulation.

Incidentally, the list above should not be taken as exhaustive - there are other reasons and conditions from which Rickets develops.