Download File - Madame LeClair-Ash

What is communicable?
A disease that is spread from
one living organism to
another or through the
environment.
What is an infection?
A condition that occurs when
pathogens in the body multiply and
damage body cells.
Common pathogens are:
Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa,
and rickettsias (ri-ket-see-uh)
Viruses
A virus is a piece of genetic
material surrounded by a protein
coat. In order to reproduce, a
virus must invade the cells of
living organisms.
Bacteria
Bacteria are single-celled
microorganisms that live almost
everywhere on earth. Some are
harmless, some are helpful, some
cause disease.
Disease-causing bacteria can produce
toxins, substances that kill cells or
interfere with their functions.
Bacteria
Many bacteria can be treated
with antibiotics. However, due to
the overuse of antibiotics, some
strains of bacteria have become
resistant.
How disease is spread?
Pathogens infect living things in many
ways.
•Direct contact: puncture wound,
childbirth, contact with infected
animals/people
•Indirect contact: contaminated
objects, vectors, food/water
•Airborne transmission
Precautions
Wash hands: before you eat, after
using the bathroom, after handling
pets, before and after inserting
contact lenses or putting on makeup,
after touching an object handled by
an infected person.
Precautions
Protect yourself from vectors:
-Limit time spent outdoors at dawn
and dusk when mosquitoes are most
active.
-Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts
to avoid insect bites.
-Use insect repellent, and avoid
contact with dead birds.
Precautions
Other strategies:
-Don’t share personal items
-Handle food properly
-Eat well and exercise (this will keep you
strong and help you fight infection)
-Avoid tobacco, alcohol, other drugs
-Abstain from sexual contact
-Cover your mouth when you cough &
sneeze and wash hands after
Common Communicable Diseases
Respiratory Infections
Hepatitis
Others (mono, measles, encephalitis,
meningitis, chicken pox)
Many diseases begin as
respiratory infections
The respiratory tract is the passageway that
makes breathing possible. It includes the
mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It connects
the outside world to the inside of your body.
Colds, influenza, pneumonia,
strep throat, and *tuberculosis
are the most common
respiratory infections.
1/3 of the world’s population is infected
with TB, with new infections occurring at
a rate of 1 person per second.
To avoid respiratory infection:
•Avoid close contact with sick people. If you’re ill,
stay at home.
•Wash your hands often
•Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.
•Eat right, exercise and get rest to strengthen
immune system
•Abstain from smoking
The Common Cold
•A viral infection that causes inflammation of the
mucous membrane, the lining of various body
cavities, including the nose, ears, and mouth.
•Transmission through direct contact with infected
person, indirect contact through contaminated
objects, or airborne transmission.
•No cure
Influenza
•Aka “the flu”, is a viral infection of the
respiratory tract. Symptoms include
high fever, fatigue, headache, muscle
aches and coughing.
•A vaccine will help prevent the most
common types of flu for that year.
•Transmission is the same as for colds.
Pneumonia
In severe cases, the flu can lead to
pneumonia, an infection of the lungs in
which the air sacs fill with pus and other
liquids.
Can be viral or bacterial.
Can be fatal, especially for older adults
with the flu or lung/heart problems.
Strep throat
•A bacterial infection (treated with antibiotics)
•Spread by direct contact or airborne transmission
•Symptoms include sore throat, fever, enlarged
lymph nodes in the neck.
•If left untreated, can lead to serious conditions
including heart damage.
Tuberculosis
•Aka TB is a bacterial infection that usually
attacks the lungs.
•It spreads though the air and usually affects
people with weakened immune systems.
•Symptoms include fatigue, coughing, fever,
weight loss, and night sweats.
Hepatitis
A viral infection which causes inflammation of
the liver. There are at least 5 different kinds
and the most common are Hepatitis A, B and C.
There are vaccines for hepatitis A & B but
since it is a virus, there is no cure.
Other Communicable Diseases
•Mononucleosis (virus, spread by direct contact
and sharing utensils)
•Measles (viral, spread by coughs, sneezes or
airborne)
•Encephalitis (viral, carried by mosquitos)
•Chicken Pox (viral, spread through air or
contact with fluid from blisters)
Meningitis
Viral or bacterial
Spread by direct or indirect contact
Fever, severe headache, nausea,
vomitting, sensitivity to light, stiff neck