The “Dark Matter” of Medical Science

 The “Dark Matter” of Medical Science

What does modern medicine not know?

July, 2024

Steven B. Zwickel

This began with a conversation I had with my doctor. I asked her about a particular medical condition and whether there was a cure for it.

She shook her head. “No, unfortunately that is one illness that we have no cure for. In fact, we don’t even know what causes it.”

She paused, then added, “There are many things like that—illnesses that we know very little about.”

“It’s the “dark matter” of medical science, isn’t it?,” I asked. “We know that it exists, but we really know very little about it.”

 I took that as a challenge. I decided to find out what is in the “dark matter” of medicine.

Dark matter “makes up over 80% of all matter in the universe, but scientists have never seen it.  We only assume it exists because, without it, the behavior of stars, planets and galaxies simply wouldn't make sense.”  See <https://www.space.com/20930-dark-matter.html> Likewise, while it seems obvious that an illness must have a cause, as you can see from the table, in some cases we don’t know what those causes are.

Some illnesses can be cured, others can not

I put together a table listing various illnesses, in alphabetical order by their most common names. The list is by no means complete. NOTE: Hypochondriacs and readers who are worried about or easily frightened about their health should skip reading this.

I am not a physician and nothing in this document should be taken as medical advice. I can’t vouch for the reliability of the sources I used. Readers with questions should go to <https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions>

“Cause Known?” indicates whether medical science actually knows what causes the illness (etiology) or suspects what the cause, or causes, may probably be. Where the answer is “No” you’ll find an area of dark matter. Modern medicine excels at treating the consequences of many diseases, but the root causes of complex conditions remain elusive. 

I use the word “probably” to indicate the areas that medical researchers are pursuing in search of a cause.

Here are some other terms used in explaining the cause of an illness:

Arboviral disease is a general term used to describe infections caused by viruses spread to people by the bite of infected insects, such as mosquitoes and ticks. These infections usually occur during warm weather months, when mosquitoes and ticks are active. 

A sexually transmitted infection (STI) is a virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite people can get through sexual contact. A sexually transmitted disease (STD) develops because of an STI and the term implies that the infection led to some symptom of disease. 

Waterborne diseases Contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio, Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium), Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora spp.), Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection, Giardiasis (Giardia), Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), Hot Tub Rash (Pseudomonas Dermatitis/Folliculitis), Legionellosis (Legionella). Sources of these diseases include water contaminated with bacteria or viruses; poor personal hygiene, untreated or contaminated drinking water, contaminated air handling systems, seawater, agricultural runoff, and food unwashed or handled by a contaminated or infected individual.

Foodborne diseases are the illnesses people get from eating contaminated food or beverages, including foodborne intoxications and infections, which are often incorrectly referred to as food poisoning. Foodborne diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, toxins, metals, and prions. Washing food and cooking it thoroughly can eliminate some of these sources. So can good hygiene—washing hands after going to the bathroom—by anyone who handles food.

“Curable?” explains whether or not there is a definite cure for the illness. In some cases the symptoms of an illness may be treatable, but that is not considered a cure. Where the answer is “No” you’ll find an area of dark matter.

“Potentially Fatal?” shows whether a person with that illness will probably die from it. In many cases an illness is considered fatal unless it is detected and treated quickly. In other cases the illness itself is not lethal, but complications resulting from that illness can kill a person. 

The good news is that our understanding of the different illnesses is growing very quickly and enormous amounts of money and research efforts my soon change some, if not many of, the answers in the table to “Yes.”

Illness	Cause Known?	Curable?	Potentially Fatal?
African sleeping sickness = Trypanosomiasis	Yes. parasite Trypanosoma brucei transmitted to humans through the bite of infected tsetse flies	Yes. Treatable depending if caught early	Yes, if not treated early enough
Alzheimer's disease	Not fully; appears to be combination of genetic/family history, age, lifestyle, and environmental factors,or??	No. Some symptoms are manageable. New drugs are coming along quickly.	No, but complications can be fatal
American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease)	Yes. parasite Trypanosoma Cruzi. transmitted by bite, followed by contact with feces/urine of infected blood-sucking triatomine bugs	Yes. Treatable depending if caught early	Yes, if not treated early enough
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis = ALS [Lou Gehrig's disease]	No. Possibly genetic, environmental, Neuroinflamation, Glutamate Excitotoxicity, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, or??	No. Supportive care and treatments can help manage symptoms, prolong survival, and improve quality of life	Yes
Anthrax	Yes. bacterium Bacillus anthracis	Yes, with antibiotics and anthrax antitoxin	Yes, lethal if not promptly treated
Arthritis - Osteoarthritis (OA)	Yes. Aging, joint overuse or injury, obesity, joint misalignment or inflammation, congenital abnormality, metabolic conditions, gender	No. Some symptoms are manageable.	No.
Arthritis - Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)	No. Possibly genetic, environmental trigger, autoimmune response, gender, age, family history, obesity	No. Some symptoms are manageable.	No, but complications may affect life expectancy
Botulism	Yes, Foodborne: toxins produced by bacteria Clostridium botulinum	Yes, with Antitoxin	Yes, if not treated promptly
Brucellosis (undulant fever, Malta fever, Mediterranean fever)	Yes, Foodborne: toxins produced by bacteria Brucella	Yes, with a combination of antibiotics	Not usually, but complications may include arthritis, inflammation of the heart (endocarditis), inflammation of the lining of the brain (meningitis)
Campylobacter enteritis = campylobacteriosis	Yes, Foodborne: bacterium Campylobacter	Yes. Manage dehydration, some use of antibiotics.	Rarely
Cancer - Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC)	No	When possible, with surgical removal of tumor	Depends on success of surgery
Cancer - Breast	No. Risk factors include genetic [mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes], hormones, alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, age, family history, exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), and other occupational exposures.	No. However, for early-stage breast cancer, treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy can be effective in curing the disease.	Yes, unless it is diagnosed and treated early enough
Cancer - Carcinoma: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs)	No, but possibly: genetic, environmental, chronic inflammation, hormonal, immune system dysfunction, age, infection -human papillomavirus (HPV)	Depends on the type of carcinoma, its stage, and individual circumstances. Radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy may work	Yes, but early detection and treatment can significantly increase the chances of survival
Cancer - Central Nervous System (CNS)	No. Possibly genetic, radiation, chemical exposure, immune system dysfunction, age, viral infection	Yes, with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy	Yes, if malignant and grow rapidly or spread to other parts of the CNS or body. Location of tumor within the brain or spinal cord can also affect prognosis and potential complications.
Cancer - Leukemia	No. Possibly genetic, environmental, immune system suppression, viral infection, age	No, but treatment possible, depending on leukemia subtype, patient age and health	Yes, if not diagnosed early or if it does not respond well to treatment
Cancer - Lymphoma Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin	No. Possibly genetic mutations, weakened immune system, viral infection, age, gender, family history, some autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's syndrome	Yes = Hodgkin;  Non-Hodgkin very hard to cure. Treated with radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and bone marrow transplant	Yes, potentially
Cancer - Melanoma	No. Possibly exposure to UV radiation, genetic factors, skin type and sensitivity, age, immune system supression	Yes, with early detection.	Yes, potentially, if not detected and treated early on
Cancer - Most types	Sometimes. Possibly: genetic syndromes or mutations, environmental/lifestyle factors, age, gender, exposure to radiation.	Depends on the type	Depends on type and if diagnosed and treated early enough
Cancer - Ovarian cancer - epithelial ovarian cancer - germ cell tumors - stromal tumors	No. Possiby genetic mutation, age, family history, reproductive factors, hormonal factors, obesity	Early-stage ovarian cancer (Stage I and II) is more likely to be curable with appropriate treatment, whereas advanced-stage ovarian cancer (Stage III and IV) is more difficult to treat and has a poorer prognosis.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on
Cancer - Pancreatic cancer - Adenocarcinoma - pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs),	No. Possibly genetic, family history, smoking, age, chronic pancreatitis, obesity	Yes, with early detection. Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on
Cancer - Renal Cell Carcinoma - Kidney Cancer -transitional cell carcinoma - Wilms tumor - renal sarcoma	No. Possibly genetic factors, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, exposure to certain chemicals: asbestos, cadmium, organic solvents	Yes, for localized renal cancer completely removed surgically and does not recur	Yes, but early-stage kidney cancers detected before they spread (metastasize) outside the kidney typically have a good prognosis, especially after surgical removal.
Cancer - Sarcoma - bone and soft-tissue	No. Possibly genetic factors, radiation or chemical exposure, inherited DNA mutations	No, but combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy my help	Yes, unless detected and treated early on
Cancer - Thyroid cancer (papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular thyroid carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma)	No. Possibly genetic factors, radiation exposure, gender and age, thyroid conditions, or exposure to chemicals or pollutants	Yes.  Most are treatable.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on
Celiac Disease	No, but possibly combination of genetic and environmental factors	No. Treatable with strict gluten-free diet	Not directly, but slightly higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases like flu or pneumonia
Cerebral Palsy	No, but possibly prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal factors, genetic mutations	No.	No.
Chikungunya	Yes, Virus transmitted by mosquitoes	No.	No
Chlamydia	Yes, bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (see Trachoma); Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)	Yes, with antibiotics	Not directly, but untreated chlamydia can lead to perihepatitis (inflammation around the liver) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord).
Cholera	Yes, bacterium Vibrio cholerae	Yes, with prompt intervention and Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) therapy, sometimes antibiotics	Yes, fatal if not treated promptly; can start an epidemic
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)	Yes, by smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution, workplace dust and fumes	Not once lungs damaged.	Yes, complications are life-threatening.
Cirrhosis	Yes. Heavy alcohol use, viral hepatitis, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Genetic disorders, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Bile Duct diseases, some medications and toxins	No.	Yes, but it is not always the direct cause of death.
Clostridioides difficile   (C. diff)	Yes, bacterium Clostridioides difficile infection following antibiotic use, old age, long hospitalization, or other medical conditions	No. Treatments include stopping antibiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Coronavirus /Covid-19	Yes, Virus SARS-CoV-2	No, but oral anti-viral pills, intravenous antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, anti-inflammatory drugs can help.	Yes
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease - Sporadic,Familial, and Acquired	No - Sporadic Yes - Familial (inherited) Yes. Acquired = Foodborne	No.	Yes.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever	Yes, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) from tick bites or contact with infected animal blood or tissues	No.	Yes.
Crohn’s Disease	No. Possibly autoimmune reaction, genetic factors, environmental factors, high-fat diet	No. Treatments focus on controlling symptoms	Not directly, but it can lead to severe inflammation, bowel obstruction, fistulas, malnutrition, colon cancer which may be fatal.
Cystic fibrosis (CF)	Yes. Genetic	No.	Yes, it can lead to serious health complications and has the potential to be life-threatening.
Dengue fever (dengue hemorrhagic fever)	Yes, virus Dengue through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes -Arboviral	No.	No. But can be fatal if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
Diabetes - Type 1	No. Possibly genetics or triggered by an autoimmune response.	No. Treated by managing blood sugar levels, insulin injections, diet, and exercise	Yes, if untreated
Diabetes - Type 2	No. Possibly insulin resistance, obesity + sedentary lifestyle, genetic, age, ethnicity, gestation (women)	No. Treated by medication, diet, and exercise	Yes, if untreated
Diphtheria	Yes. bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae	Yes, with antitoxin and antibiotics	Yes, lethal if not promptly treated
Dupuytren's contracture	No, but possibly combination of genetic (Northern European ancestry) and environmental factors	No.	No.
E. Coli Escherichia coli O157-H7 Infection:  1. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC);  2.  Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC);  3. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC);  4. Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC); 5. Diffusely adherent Escherichia coli (DAEC); 6. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)	Yes, bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) Waterborne/Foodborne; Transmitted by raw foods, unpasteruized dairy products, human feces to mouth on unwashed hands.	Yes, depending on severity and type of infection	No, but see Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), which can result in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is life-threatening.
Eastern equine encephalitis	Yes. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) transmitted by mosquitoes	No.	Yes.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)	Yes. Viruses Filoviridae =Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, Bundibugyo ebolavirus, and Taï Forest ebolavirus; transmitted from infected animals	No. Treated with IV fluids/electrolytes, oxygen, blood transfusions, and medications to manage symptoms	Yes
Eclampsia	No, but possibly vascular dysfunction, placental factors, hormonal imbalance, immune system response, genetic factors	No. Treated with anticonvulsant therapy, blood pressure control, fetal lung maturation.	Yes if not promptly and effectively managed
Emphysema	Yes.Long-term exposure to irritants that damage the lungs (smoking, air pollution, dust, fumes, chemicals), genetic, age, respiratory infections	No.	No, but complications can be fatal.
Encephalitis lethargica (EL)	No, but possibly viral infection, autoimmune reaction genetic and environmental factors	No.	Sometimes
Endometriosis	No, but possibly retrograde menstruation, immune system dysfunction, or genetics	No, treatments focus on managing symptoms	No.
Epilepsy	No, but possibly genetics, brain injury, brain developmental disorder, infection, stroke/vascular disease, metabolic disorder, autoimmune disorder, developmental abnormalities	No, but there are ways to control seizures.	Yes, from complications
Fibromyalgia	No, possibly Central Nervous System (CNS) abnormalities, genetic, stress	No. Symptoms treated with a combination of medication, exercise, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and lifestyle modifications	No.
Glanders	Yes, bacteria Burkholderia mallei after direct contact with infected animals or contaminated materials	No. Antibiotics may help	Yes, lethal if not promptly treated
Gonorrhea	Yes, bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae - sexually transmitted infection (STI)	Yes, with antibiotics	Rarely, but complications may include Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Disseminated Gonococcal Infection (DGI), Increased HIV Transmission
Gout (hyperuricemia)	Yes, diet, alcohol, medical conditions like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, diuretics and aspirin, genetics	No, but managed with medication and lifesyle changes	No, but complications can be fatal.
Guillain-Barré syndrome	No, but possibly triggered by infection, autoimmune response, vaccination	No. Treated with immunomodulatory therapies, pain management, PT, respiratory support	No.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)	Yes, Virus transmitted by rodents	No.	Yes.
Hashimoto’s Disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis)	No, but possibly combination of genetic and environmental factors	No. Treated with synthetic thyroid hormone, monitoring, lifestyle changes to diet, exercise, stress, sleep	No.
Hepatitis A & E	Yes. Virus - foodborne/waterborne. Also caaused by autoimmune response, alcohol and drugs, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Metabolic disorders	No. Most patients recover with supportive care.	No.
Hepatitis B & C & D	Yes. Virus transmitted by bodily fluids. Also caaused by autoimmune response, alcohol and drugs, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Metabolic disorders	No. Treated with antiviral medicines.	Yes. Increased risk of death from complications.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)	Yes, virus Lentivirus retroviruses HIV-1 and HIV-2; person to person Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)	No, Treated with antiretorviral therapy.	Yes, if left untreated HIV can progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection	Yes. Virus - one or more of 100 varieties of papillomavirus  person to person Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) or through other skin-to-skin contact	No.	No. But some types of genital HPV can cause cancer of the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina (cervix), cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva and back of the throat (oropharyngeal).
Huntington's disease	Yes. Genetic.	No.	Yes. From complications.
Influenza - Bird flu - avian influenza (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza = HPAI)	Yes. Influenza A virus that belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae  transmitted from poultry	No. Supportive care and symptom relief may help, antiviral medications	Yes, especially in cases where there are complications such as severe pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Influenza - H1N1 (Swine Flu)	Yes. Influenza A virus that belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae	No. Treated with anti-viral therapy and symptom management	No.
Influenza - Seasonal	Yes. Influenza B Virus (IBV) that belongs to the family Orthomyxoviridae	No. Most patients recover.	No. But dangerous for infants, elderly, weakened immune system, obesity, chronic illnesses, stroke victims
Influenza C Virus (ICV)	Yes. Influenza C Virus (ICV) Gammainfluenzavirus	No.	No.
Invasive Aspergillosis	Yes. fungal infection caused primarily by Aspergillus species, most commonly Aspergillus fumigatus	No.	Yes, especially for people who are immunocompromised.
Invasive listeriosis	Yes. Foodborne - bacterium Listeria monocytogenes	No. Treated with antibiotics.	Yes, especially for people who are immunocompromised.
Larval tapeworm infection (Cysticercosis)	Yes. Foodborne/waterborne by larval stage of tapeworm; undercooked pork	Yes. Anti-parasitic drugs	Yes, depending on number and size of cysts.
Lassa  Fever	Yes. Virus Arenaviridae spread by urine, droppings, or saliva of infected West African rats	Yes. Anti-viral drugs.	No.
Legionnaires' disease	Yes. Waterborne by bacterium Legionella pneumophila	Yes. Antibiotics.	Yes, if not promptly and effectively managed
Leprosy [Hansen's Disease]	Yes. Bacterium Mycobacterium leprae Possibly spread person to person through respiratory droplets	Yes. Antibiotics.	No.
Leptospirosis (Weil disease; Icterohemorrhagic fever; Swineherd's disease; Rice-field fever; Cane-cutter fever; Swamp fever; Mud fever; Hemorrhagic jaundice; Stuttgart disease; Canicola fever)	Yes, bacteria leptospira Waterborne from drinking contaminated water	Yes, antibiotics usually work	Yes, if not detected and treated early on. Complications include Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction to penicillin, Meningitis, Severe bleeding
Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever (LBRF)	Yes. bacteria Borrelia recurrentis. Transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected human body louse	Yes. Antibiotics.	Yes, if not promptly and effectively treated
Lupus erythematosus	No. Possbily combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors	No. Treatments may help suppress immune system and relieve symptoms.	No. But if not diagnosed early and treated, complications may be fatal.
Lyme disease	Yes. bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi from the bites of infected ticks	No. Treated with antibiotics and to relieve symptoms.	No. But if untreated, it can lead to arthritis, nerve pain, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), or Lyme neuroborreliosis (inflammation of the brain and spine).
Malaria	Yes. parasites Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax from bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes	Yes. Anti-malarial medications	Yes, if not detected early and promptly treated
Measles = Rubeola	Yes. Measles virus, spread person to person through respiratory droplets	No.Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	No, but may cause fatal pneumonia and can kill malnourished and immunocompromised people.
Meningitis - Bacterial [Meningococcal meningitis]	Yes. bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) spread person to person through respiratory droplets	Yes, with antibiotics, corticosteroids, and symptom management.	Yes.
Meningitis - Fungal	Yes. fungal infections, such as Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, or Coccidioides	Yes, with antifungal medications.	Yes.
Meningitis - Parasitic	Yes. Foodborne/Waterborne. Parasites such as Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba, and Angiostrongylus cantonensis.	No.	No.
Meningitis - Viral	Yes. viruses such as enteroviruses, herpes simplex virus, and varicella-zoster virus	No. Treated with antiviral medicines if the virus is identified.	No.
Mental Disorders: Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias; Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders; Eating disorders; Personality disorders; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia	Yes, including genetics, family history, life experiences, biological & chemical factors, traumatic brain injury, prenatal exposure to viruses/toxic chemicals/drugs/alcohol, use of alcohol or drugs, serious health problems, social isolation.	No, but many kinds of treatments for symptoms, including psychotherapy paired with medication	No, but some can increase the risk of health complications or behaviors that can be life-threatening.
MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)	Yes. Virus coronavirus (MERS-CoV) from dromedary camels to humans, possibly from bats.	No. Treatments focus on symptoms.	Yes.
Monkey B virus [Herpes B virus]	Yes. Virus after being bitten/scratched by a monkey, or from contaminated syringe	No.	Yes. Infection can cause encephalitis, which can lead to permanent neurological damage or death
Mononucleosis (mono or glandular fever)	Yes. Virus = Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Adenovirus, and Toxoplasmosis. spread person to person through respiratory droplets and saliva	No.	No.
Mpox (Monkeypox) - Clade I and Clade II	Yes. Virus Monkeypox virus transmitted from infected animal or person.	No. Treated with antiviral medicines and relief from symptoms.	Yes, Clade I can kill; Clade II is rarely fatal.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)	No, but possibly genetics, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Vitamin D deficiency, smoking, childhood obesity	No.	No. But can reduce life expectancy.
Mumps (Epidemic Parotitis)	Yes, mumps virus, of the paramyxovirus family. Spreads through respiratory droplets or saliva from an infected person, enters the body through the nose, mouth, or throat, and infects parotid glands — salivary glands near the ears.	No.	No, but in very rare cases, severe complications such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord) can lead to serious outcomes.
Muscular dystrophy (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Muscular Dystrophy, Myotonic Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy)	Yes, genetic mutations	No. Treatments focus on relief from symptoms and slowing progress of disease.	Yes, when heart or respiratory mucsles are  affected.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)	No, but possibly insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, High blood lipids (dyslipidemia), genetics, sedentary lifestyle.	Yes, if diagnosed and treated early.	Yes, from liver failure.
Noninvasive listeriosis (febrile listerial gastroenteritis)	Yes. Foodborne - bacterium Listeria monocytogenes	No.	No.
Norovirus	Yes, virus Norovirus Caliciviridae. From contaminated person to person, Foodborne/Waterborne, aerosolized particles	No.	No, but can kill sick and elderly people.
Onychomycosis	Yes, fungus dermatophytes  Trichophyton rubrum,Trichophyton mentagrophytes,  and  Epidermophyton floccosum  transmitted from hotel carpets, public showers,  pool decks and other dark, warm, moist surfaces	Yes, treated with systemic antifungals	No.
Parkinson's disease	No, but possibly genetics,  exposure to toxins(pesticides, herbicides),head injuries, age	No, treatments focus on managing symptoms	No, but complications like falls, pneumonia, and difficulty swallowing can increase the risk of death
Phthisis (phthisis bulbi)	Yes, from from various ocular insults like trauma, surgery, infection, inflammation, malignancy, retinal detachment, and vascular lesions	No.	No.
Plague - Bubonic (Septicemic, Pneumonic)	Yes, bacterium Yersinia pestis through the bite of infected fleas that have fed on rodents such as rats	Yes, with a combination of antibiotics	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly may lead to Septicemic Plague = Yersinia pestis bacteria multiply in the bloodstream, causing severe sepsis (blood infection) and potentially leading to multiple organ failure; or Pneumonic plague, when Yersinia pestis infects the lungs
Pneumonia - Bacterial	Yes, bacteria, primarily Streptococcus pneumoniae, also Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae	No, treated with antibiotics.	Yes, for children, elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, if not promptly and effectively treated
Pneumonia - Fungal	Yes, fungi, including Aspergillus, Mucor, Candida, Pneumocystis jirovecii from inhaling fungal spores	Yes, with antifungal medication, depending on type of infection	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Pneumonia - Viral	Yes, virus SARS-CoV-2 and, children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) spread person to person through respiratory droplets and saliva	No. Treatments focus on relief from symptoms	No, except for children, elderly, and people with weakened immune systems
Polio [Poliomyelitis, infantile paralysis, Heine–Medin disease]	Yes, virus poliovirus Waterborne; also spread person to person through contact with the feces of an infected person	No.	Yes, but rarely.
Psoriasis (Plaque, Guttate, Pustular, Inverse, Erythrodermic)	No, but possibly faulty immune cell activation, genetic, environmental (infection, stress, injury), family history, smoking, alcohol, medications, climate, obesity outside.	No. Treatments focus on controlling symptoms	No.
Quinsy (peritonsillar abscess) / tonsillitis	Yes, bacteria A beta-hemolytic streptococcus	Yes, with antibiotics, drainage, tonsillectomy, and treatment of symptoms	Yes, the abscess can rupture and the contents of the abscess can travel into the lungs and cause pneumonia
Rabbit fever =  Tularemia	Yes, bacterium Francisella tularensis transmitted by bites of infected ticks (dog ticks, wood ticks, and lone star ticks) or deer flies; Foodborne = undercooked wild game, inhaling aerosolized organisms, Waterborne = drinking contaminated water.	Yes, with antibiotics.	Yes, if untreated.
Rabies (Hydrophobia)	Yes, virus lyssaviruses, Rhabdoviridae, Mononegavirales and Australian bat lyssavirus. Transmitted by animal bite or scratch.	No, once symptoms appear, but getting a series of vaccinations post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent disease.	Yes, once rabies patient develops neurological symptoms.
Raccoon roundworm [Baylisascaris infection]	Yes, parasite raccoon roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis. Transmitted by inhaling eggs of the parasite, which are shed in raccoon feces.	No. Treatment of symptoms and supportive care.	No, but may cause serious neurological complications.
Reye's syndrome	No, but possibly exposure to salicylate (aspirin), viral infection, metabolic disorder.	No.	Yes, if left untreated.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)	Yes, Tickborne from bite of American dog tick: (Dermacentor variabilis) Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni)	Yes, if diagnosed and treated early with antibiotics.	Yes.
Roseola (roseola infantum or sixth disease)	Yes, by human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) or 7 (HHV-7), spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, and by saliva	No.Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	No, but complications can be serious.
Rotavirus	Yes, virus rotavirus, spread from human feces to mouth on unwashed hands.	No.Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing dehydration.	No, only if dehydration is untreated.
Rubella (German measles)	Yes, virus RuV, a rubivirus of the family Matonaviridae, spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a surface with the virus on it.	No. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	No, but serious when a pregnant woman passes rubella to the fetus = Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). This can cause skin, hearing, vision, heart and brain problems in newborns.
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis)	Yes. Foodborne/Waterborne bacteria salmonella. Transmitted by raw foods, unpasteruized dairy products, human feces to mouth on unwashed hands.	Yes. Treatments focus on symptoms; antibiotics given if bacteria enter bloodstream.	No, but complications can be dangerous for infants, childen, elderly, transplant recipients, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)	Yes. Virus SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a surface with the virus on it.	No. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms.	Yes. Increased risk of death from respiratory symptoms.
Scarlet fever	Yes. bacteria from group A Streptococcus pyogenes. Spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a surface with the bacteria on it.	No, but treatable with antibiotics.	Yes, if left untreated.
Septicemia (blood poisoning)	Yes. Bacterial infections from wounds, injuries, surgery, infections in other parts of the body. May also be caused by fungi and viruses.	No, but treatable with antibiotics.	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection	Yes. Bacteria Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) E. coli O157:H7. Foodborne/Waterborne; Spread person to person through poor hygiene.	No. Treated by supportive care to manage symptoms and prevent/treat complications.	No. But complications, like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), can be fatal.
Shingles (herpes zoster)	Yes, reactivation of the virus varicella-zoster (VZV) virus that causes chickenpox; possibly triggered by aging, weakened immune system, stress.	No. Treated to reduce symptoms.	No, but severe complications possible.
Sjogren’s Syndrome	No, but possibly combination of genetic and environmental factors (viral or bacterial infections)	No. Treatement focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing complications	No.
Smallpox = variola	Yes, virus ariola poxvirus [Variola Major & Variola Minor] Spread person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes, or by touching a rash surface with the virus on it.	No.	Yes, and could lead to severe complications, including: secondary bacterial infections (pneumonia or septicemia), permanent scars on the skin, damage to internal organs.
Staphylococcus aureus / Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)	Yes, bacteria Staphylococcus aureus  infection when bacteria enter the body through cuts, abrasions, or other breaches in the skin.	Yes, with antibiotics the bacteria is not resistant to.	Yes, depending on type of infection and patient’s health; severe complications include sepsis, pneumonia, endocarditis.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)	No, but possibly immature development of baby’s brainstem, sleeping on stomach or side, soft bedding, overheating, maternal smoking during pregnancy, premature birth, low birth weight, family history	No.	Yes.
Syphilis	Yes, bacterium Treponema pallidum; sexually transmitted infection (STI) spread through direct contact with a syphilitic sore (chancre) during sex	Yes, with antibiotics	Yes, if left untreated.
Tetanus (Lockjaw)	Yes, bacterium Clostridium tetani; infection occurs when the bacterium enters the body through a wound or a break in the skin—puncture wounds, burns, surgical wounds, even minor injuries like cuts or scratches.	No. Treated with antibiotics and immunoglobulin and focus on relief from symptoms.	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Thrush	Yes, fungus Candida; when illnesses, stress or medications disturb the amount of Candida, the fungus grows out of control and causes thrush	Yes,  treatment is antifungal medications	No.
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)	Yes, bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (staph) and Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep). Can also be caused by toxins produced by bacterium Clostridium sordellii.	Yes, in-patient care including IV fluids, antibiotics, medication to control blood pressure, with close monitoring of vital signs.	Yes, depending on type of bacteria, speed of diagnosis, and health of patient. Clostridium sordellii infections are usually fatal.
Trachoma	Yes, bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis; transmitted through direct or indirect contact with eye and nose discharges of infected people	No, but treatable with antibiotics.	No, but may cause blindness
Trichomoniasis	Yes, sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the single-celled parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.	Yes.	No.
Tuberculosis (TB)	Yes, bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis; transmitted through coughing, sneezing, or saliva discharge of infected people	Yes, treated with a combination of antibiotics	Yes, if not detected and treated promptly.
Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever	Yes, bacteria—Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella serotype Typhi. Paratyphoid fever is caused by Salmonella serotype Paratyphi. Waterborne: contaminated drinking water; Foodborne: poor food handling hygiene	Yes, treated with antibiotics	Yes, if not detected and treated early on.
Typhus - Arbovirus	Yes, bacteria: Rickettsia prowazekii {epidemic typhus} and Rickettsia typhi {murine typhus}. Spread to humans through the bites of fleas, lice, or ticks	No.	Yes, if not detected and treated early on and can become an epidemic.
Vibrio illness [Vibriosis]	Yes, bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio alginolyticus; Foodborne in raw/undercooked shellfish or from open wound.	No, treated with antibiotics depending on severity of symptoms. Note: Vibrio cholerae (causes cholera) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (causes gastroenteritis)	Yes, Vibrio vulnificus can be fatal. Note: Vibrio cholerae causes cholera.
West Nile Virus (WNV) - Arbovirus	Yes, RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted to humans by the bite of a Culex mosquito.	No, treated with supportive care, rest, fluids, pain management	Yes, if West Nile virus enters the brain, however, it can be life-threatening.
Whooping cough / Pertussis	Yes, bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.	No, but antibiotics can reduce severity	Yes, but extremely rare.
Yellow Fever (Flavivirus) - Arbovirus	Yes, virus Flavivirus or Yellow fever virus (YFV); transmitted to humans by the bite of Aedes aegypti or Haemagogus mosquito.	No, treated with supportive care.	Yes, but most cases are mild.
Zika - Arbovirus	Yes, virus Zika; transmitted to humans by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito.	No, treated with supportive care.	No, but complications can be dangerous for pregnant women and their infants, may possibly cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

Cardiovascular disease

I did not include Cardiovascular disease in the table. This category includes:

• Aneurysm
• Angina or angina pectoris
• Atherosclerosis = hardening of the arteries
• Atrioventricular block
• Arrhythmia 
• Bacterial endocarditis
• Blood clot (A blood clot that forms inside one of your veins or arteries is called a thrombus. A thrombus may also form in your heart. A thrombus that breaks loose and travels from one location in the body to another is called an embolus)
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) - Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) 
• Heart and blood vessel disease 
• Heart failure, congestive heart failure 
• Heart Valve Disease - stenosis, regurgitation, prolapse
• Hemorrhagic stroke 
• Ischemic stroke 
• Myocardial Infarction = heart attack  

Our knowledge of Cardiovascular disease and coronary care is changing rapidly and the focus now is on prevention and finding new treatments. In some cases, the cause of these illnesses is fairly clear—smoking, diet, and a sedentary lifestyle, although genetics and family history also play a part. 

<https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/a-z/>

More Dark Matter 

Here are some other examples of the “dark matter” limitations of modern medicine:

Connections between Psychiatry and Medicine: The relationship between the mind and body is not fully understood. This complicates the treatment of conditions with both physiological and psychological components, such as chronic pain syndromes and psychosomatic disorders.

Understanding the Human Microbiome: The human microbiota consists of 10–100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells harbored by each person, primarily bacteria in the gut; the human microbiome consists of the genes these cells harbor. Microbiome projects work to understand the roles these symbionts play in human health. The human microbiome in our bodies is linked to health and disease. Reasearchers are looking at the specific mechanisms by which these microbiomes influence well-being and studying how they might be manipulated for therapeutic benefit. <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3426293/>

Personalized, Precision Medicine: Personalized medicine uses an individual's genetic profile to guide decisions made regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Personalized medicine is being advanced through data from the Human Genome Project. <https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Personalized-Medicine>

Aging (Gerontology) and Intervention Strategies: The aging process is a complex interplay of biological pathways. Despite significant advancements, a comprehensive understanding of cellular senescence and effective strategies to slow or reverse its effects remain elusive. Gerontology encompasses all avenues of the aging process from the cellular level to the social level. {Gerontology is the scientific study of aging, while the study of disease and illness in the elderly is geriatrics.} According to WebMD, “There are several subfields of gerontology that focus on all aspects of aging:

Biological Gerontology: The study of aging at both the molecular and cellular levels. Researchers are trying to understand changes in cells and tissues as the people age and to identify mechanisms that affect age-related illness. They try to develop ways to prevent, delay, or reverse the underlying aging processes.

Social Gerontology: This is the study of aging in a social context, focusing on the relationship between the elderly and their caregivers, families, and extended society. Researchers try to understand how aging affects social relationships and roles to develop policies and programs to improve the life quality for older adults.   

Environmental Gerontology: This is the study of the interaction between people and their social and physical environments. Researchers try to identify environmental factors that aid in healthy aging and to find ways to improve the built environment [human-made conditions = architecture, landscaping, urban planning, public health] for the aging”. < https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/what-is-gerontology>

Lessons Learned from 135 Illnesses

• Cause known: Yes 97
• Curable: Yes 42
• Potentially Fatal: Yes 77

Follow the advice your parents gave you: wash your hands after you use the toilet, don’t smoke, use sunscreen and wear a hat, avoid mosquitos and ticks, go easy on the alcohol, get some exercise, cover your nose when you sneeze and your mouth when you cough, keep your vaccinations up to date, cook food thoroughly and watch what you eat, don’t drink raw milk, don’t pick food up off the floor and eat it (the “5-second rule” is nonsense), and, if you feel sick, don’t “wait and see” —go talk to a doctor!