common communicable diseases
DESCRIPTION
Communicable DiseasesTRANSCRIPT
Common Colds
Prevention
Here are 4 proven ways to help lower your
chances of getting sick:
Always wash your hands: Children and
adults should wash hands after nose-wiping,
diapering, and using the bathroom, and
before eating and preparing food.
Disinfect: Clean commonly touched surfaces
(such as sink handles, door knobs, and
sleeping mats) with an EPA-approved
Choose smaller day-care classes: Attending
a day care where there are six or fewer
children dramatically reduces the spread of germs.
Use paper towels instead of sharing cloth towels.
The immune system helps your body fight off infection. Here are 4 ways to support the immune
system:
Avoid second-hand smoke: Keep as far away from second-hand smoke as possible. It is
responsible for many health problems, including colds.
Drink water: Fluids help your immune system work properly.
Eat yogurt: Certain yogurts contains "active cultures," or beneficial bacteria that helps
prevent colds.
Get enough sleep: Not getting enough sleep makes you more likely to get sick.
Symptoms
Cold symptoms usually start about 2 or 3 days after you came in contact with the virus,
although it could take up to a week. Symptoms mostly affect the nose.
The most common cold symptoms are: Nasal congestion, runny nose, scratchy throat, sneezing
Treatment
Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids.
COLD MEDICINES
Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines may help ease symptoms in adults and older
children. ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold. They will not help and may make the
situation worse. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge normally occurs with a cold after a few
days. If it does not get better within 10 to 14 days, then your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases
Flu
The flu, more scientifically known as
influenza, is a highly contagious respiratory
infection caused by influenza viruses. The
influenza virus usually enters the body
through mucus membranes in the mouth,
nose, or eyes. When a person with the flu
coughs or sneezes, the virus then becomes
airborne and can be inhaled by anyone
nearby. You can also get the flu if you’ve touched a contaminated surface like a telephone or a
doorknob and then touch your nose or mouth. Of course, the risk of infection is greater in highly
populated areas like schools, buses, and crowded urban settings.
Flu symptoms can be mild or severe, and can come on suddenly — be sure you know your flu
treatment options so you can be prepared. Symptoms generally appear 1 to 4 days after
exposure to the virus.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the flu include chills, fever, aches, and tiredness.
The common symptoms of the flu include:
Fever (100°F or greater), headache, muscle aches, chills, tiredness, cough, runny nose (more
common in children than adults); f you have one or more of these symptoms, it could be the flu.
Treatment
Antivirals
Flu Vaccines
Good hygiene
Antibiotics
Prevention
Wash those hands
The flu virus can spread by direct contact, such as sharing drinks, or through indirect contact,
such as when an infected co-worker sneezes on her hands and touches an object like the
lunchroom microwave door. The influenza virus can live for 2 to 8 hours on surfaces. During flu
season, everyone should wash their hands frequently to reduce the risk of transmitting germs to
others.
Cover your mouth
When you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue (not your hands), and be
sure to throw the tissue away immediately.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the
lining in the bronchial tubes. This is the
airways that connect the windpipe (trachea)
to the lungs. The respiratory system is
covered and protected by a mucus-
producing lining. When a person contacts
bronchitis, it is often painful and hard for air
to pass through in and out of the lungs when
breathing.
Symptoms
The main sign of bronchitis is a cough that brings up yellowish-grey or green mucus
(sputum). Mucus itself is normal. Your airways produce at least an ounce of normal secretions
every day.
Prevention
If you have frequent or repeated attacks of bronchitis, the culprit may be the environment
of where you live or work in. Combination of cold, damp locations, pollutions or smoke can make
you susceptible to bronchitis whether it is acute or chronic.
Treatment
If you get acute bronchitis as a result from a viral infection antibiotics will not be effective.
In most cases you are advised to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and to stay in a warm
and moist environment. This would be your best cure.
For chronic bronchitis suffer, your goal is to reduce you exposure to whatever it is irritating
your bronchial tubes. If you are a smoker, the best advice is to stop smoking. Antibiotic maybe
prescribed in some cases. But there are not guarantee that bronchitis won't occur again. In some
cases bronchitis can be life threatening.
Are you working or living in an environment that continually irritates your airways and you
have repeated bouts of bronchitis and your doctor has not been able to help you.
Causes
Bronchitis may be caused by a virus, bacteria, smoking or the inhalation of chemical pollutants
or dust. Smoking is said to main cause 80% of all cases of bronchitis. This is a long term
conditions and suffers who smoke find it much harder to recover from bronchitis and other
respiratory infections. Bronchitis occurs when the cells of the bronchial lining tissues are
irritated, the tiny hair (cilia) within them, which normally traps and eliminate pollutants, such as
smoke, dust and etc., stop functioning. When the air passages become clogged by debris and
irritation increased, a heavy secretion of mucus develops, which causes the characteristic cough
of bronchitis.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a chronic infection caused by
the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (and
occasionally other variants of Mycobacterium).
It usually involves the lungs, but other organs
of the body can also be involved.
Symptoms
In the early stages of the disease, there
is an irritating cough, particularly in the
morning, either without an expectoration or
with a clear mucus or phlegm.
The first sign of the disease is blood-
flecked phlegm accompanied by fever in the
evenings and below normal temperatures in
the early morning and also night sweats.
When the symptoms are aggravated and emaciation has set in, the second stage is
supposed to have been reached. If extreme care is not taken and treatment is not done it may
spread to the throat and the intestines
The terminal stage is characterized with illness reaching deep into the lungs and they
become full of cavities. The voice of the patient may become husky at this stage, there may be
diahorrea and extreme prostration, with the patient being unable to leave the bed and finally.
The death comes because of extensive haemorrhage.
Treatment And Preventive Measures
Treatment of tuberculosis has two faces:
Preventive, and
Curative or remedial.
The preventive aspect is more social than medical. Provision of clean, healthy
surroundings with properly ventilated and clean houses is the first imperative.
Detection and isolation of the victims of the disease is the second most important thing
that can be done.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases
Mumps
Mumps is an acute viral illness characterized
by swelling of the parotid glands, just below and in
front of the ear, and at times, the salivary glands
under the jaw.
Symptoms
The symptoms and signs of mumps are:
Soreness or swelling of the parotid glands on
one or both sides. Discomfort may range
from vague tenderness to obvious pain when
opening the mouth or swallowing
Fever, usually lasting about two to three
days
Sore muscles
Loss of appetite
Headache
Earache that is aggravated by chewing
Treatment
Treatment includes analgesics for pain, antipyretics for fever, and adequate fluid intake to
prevent dehydration from fever and anorexia. If the patient cannot swallow, I.V. fluid
replacement may be used.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen is commonly used to reduce fever and relieve discomfort.
Bed rest is advised for the duration of the fever. Ice packs or heating pads may ease the pain of
swollen glands.
For males with orchitis, doctors may prescribe stronger pain medication as well as
corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
Prevention
For prevention, the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine should be given to
children.
There is no effective post-exposure treatment.
Causes
Mumps is a virus that is spread through saliva. When someone coughs or sneezes those
small drops of moisture inter the air and can land on another person spreading the illness. It can
also be spread through kissing or through the sharing of eating utensils or cups.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a life-threatening disorder
caused by a highly contagious bacterial
infection caused by the bacterium
Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Symptoms
Diphtheria toxin usually attacks the
tonsils first and causes fever, red sore
throat, weakness, and headache. The toxin
destroys the normal throat tissue, causing
the throat to swell. As the tissue dies, the
toxin forms a thick, grayish white membrane
that completely covers the throat. The
appearance of this membrane is important
in making a diagnosis. Without treatment,
the membrane will spread to cover the
entire throat and larynx.
The victim has difficulty breathing
and cannot talk. The lymph glands in the
neck become enlarged and swollen. The
breath has an unpleasant, distinct odor. Skin diphtheria causes a nasal discharge and excoriated
skin around the nose.
Treatment
If a diagnosis of diphtheria is suspected upon physical examination, diphtheria antitoxin is
administered (either intravenously or by intramuscular injection) before laboratory results of the
culture confirm the diagnosis. The antitoxin helps to prevent damage caused by the bacterial
toxin to vital organs. Antibiotics are given to treat the infection.
Prevention
Immunization for diphtheria has been part of routine well-child care for decades. This is
the "D" in the "DPT" shots. Immunization of all infants and booster doses throughout life will
prevent any resurgence of diphtheria.
Diphtheria vaccine is made of a toxoid, which is a weakened form of the diphtheria toxin.
This stimulates the immune system to make antibodies against the toxin to protect against the
disease. The immunity wanes so that a booster is needed every ten years.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases
Rubella or Measles
Symptoms
The symptoms of rubella are often very
mild and rarely noticed. When they are noticed
they only last 2 to 3 days. The most well-known
symptom of rubella is a rash. The rash is fine
and pink and begins on the face. It then spreads
to the trunk and then to the arms and legs. The
rash disappears in the same order it appeared.
Rubella may also cause a mild fever not
exceeding 102 degrees Fahrenheit, headache,
stuffy or runny nose, red and inflamed eyes,
aching joints and enlarged, tender lymph nodes
located at the base of the skull, the back of the
neck and behind the ears.
Treatment
There is no treatment available to
shorten the length of a rubella infection. In
almost all cases the infection is simply allowed
to run its course. It is recommended that the person with the virus be isolated as to prevent
them from spreading it to others. A pregnant woman who contracts rubella is given antibodies
that help fight the infection. However, this does not decrease the risk of the baby contracting the
virus.
Prevention
Rubella is easily prevented through vaccination. A vaccination is given to babies between
the ages of 12 and 15 months and then a second vaccination is given between 4 and 6 years old.
These vaccinations are combinations vaccines called MMR. The prevent measles, mumps and
rubella. If a person did not receive the vaccination as a child they can receive it at any time.
Pregnant women should not get the MMR vaccine as it could cause the fetus to contract the
measles, mumps or rubella viruses. People who are allergic to gelatin, to the antibiotic neomycin
or have had an allergic reaction to the MMR vaccine in the past should not get the MMR vaccine.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases
Polio
Polio is a crippling and
potentially fatal infectious
disease. There is no cure, but
there are safe and effective
vaccines. The strategy to
eradicate polio is therefore
based on preventing infection
by immunizing every child
until transmission stops and
the world is polio-free.
Symptoms
Most infected people (90%) have no symptoms or very mild symptoms and usually go
unrecognized. In others, initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in
the neck and pain in the limbs.
Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP)
One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, usually in the legs. This is caused by
the virus entering the blood stream and invading the central nervous system. As it multiplies, the
virus destroys the nerve cells that activate muscles. The affected muscles are no longer
functional and the limb becomes floppy and lifeless – a condition known as acute flaccid paralysis
(AFP).
All cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) among children under fifteen years of age are
reported and tested for poliovirus within 48 hours of onset.
Bulbar polio
More extensive paralysis, involving the trunk and muscles of the thorax and abdomen, can
result in quadriplegia. In the most severe cases (bulbar polio), poliovirus attacks the nerve cells
of the brain stem, reducing breathing capacity and causing difficulty in swallowing and speaking.
Among those paralysed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.
Treatment and prevention
There is no cure for polio, only treatment to alleviate the symptoms. Heat and physical
therapy is used to stimulate the muscles and antispasmodic drugs are given to relax the
muscles. While this can improve mobility, it cannot reverse permanent polio paralysis.
Polio can be prevented through immunization. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost
always protects a child for life.
Kenneth Karl V. Pilapil – Communicable Diseases