Communicable Disease

What is a communicable disease?

A communicable disease is one that is spread from one person to another through a variety of ways
that include: contact with blood and bodily fluids; breathing in an airborne virus; or by being bitten by
an insect.

How do these communicable diseases spread?

How these diseases spread depends on the specific disease or infectious agent. Some ways in which
communicable diseases spread are by:

1. physical contact with an infected person, such as through touch (staphylococcus), sexual
intercourse (gonorrhea, HIV), fecal/oral transmission (hepatitis A), or droplets (influenza, TB)
2. contact with a contaminated surface or object (Norwalk virus), food (salmonella, E. coli), blood
(HIV, hepatitis B), or water (cholera);
3. bites from insects or animals capable of transmitting the disease (mosquito: malaria and
yellow fever; flea: plague); and
4. travel through the air, such as tuberculosis or measles.

Protect Yourself With Healthy Habits

Healthy habits prevent germs and infectious diseases from spreading. Learn, practice, and teach healthy
habits.

#1 Handle & Prepare Food Safely

Food can carry germs. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces often when preparing any food, especially raw
meat. Always wash fruits and vegetables. Cook and keep foods at proper temperatures. Don't leave food
out - refrigerate promptly.

#2 Wash Hands Often

Learn how, when, and why to wash your hands.

#3 Clean & Disinfect Commonly Used Surfaces

Germs can live on surfaces. Cleaning with soap and water is usually enough. However, you should
disinfect your bathroom and kitchen regularly. Disinfect other areas if someone in the house is ill. You can
use an EPA certified disinfectant (look for the EPA registration number on the label), bleach solution, or
rubbing alcohol.

#4 Cough & Sneeze Into Your Sleeve

Learn how and when to cover your cough and sneeze.

#5 Don't Share Personal Items

Avoid sharing personal items that can't be disinfected, like toothbrushes and razors, or sharing towels
between washes. Needles should never be shared, should only be used once, and then thrown away
properly.

#6 Get Vaccinated
Vaccines can prevent many infectious diseases. You should get some vaccinations in childhood, some as
anadult, and some for special situations like pregnancy and travel. Make sure you and your family are up-
to-date on your vaccinations. If your regular doctor does not offer the vaccine you need, visit the Adult
Immunization and Travel Clinic.

#7 Avoid Touching Wild Animals

You and your pets should avoid touching wild animals which can carry germs that cause infectious
diseases. If you are bitten, talk to your doctor. Make sure that your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date.

#8 Stay Home When Sick

Learn more about why you should stay home when sick.

Communicable diseases are everywhere--on your hands, the doorknobs, the faucets, your
friends' faces and in your children's noses. Communicable diseases are illnesses that can be
passed from person to person, either by direct contact or indirectly, by touching something
someone else left their germs on. "Germs" is a generic way to refer to viruses, bacteria and
fungi; all communicable diseases are caused by some type of germ; some are airborne,
others are transmitted on the hands or other objects.
A communicable disease is an infectious disease that can be spread from other person to
another through an agent such as a virus or bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention is the government agency responsible for doing research on the origin of the
disease and finding ways to prevent or cure it. A number of the most common communicable
diseases, in the United States and elsewhere, are contagious but treatable.

Common Cold
The term "common cold" is a misnomer; there are actually more than 200 airborne viruses
that can cause a cold, the Mayo Clinic states, although the most common culprit is the
extremely contagious rhinovirus. Adults may have two to four colds a year, while children
may be sneezing, sniffling and coughing four to six times a year. Cold symptoms are usually
mild; people with colds don't usually run a fever. Cold viruses can lead to complications such
as ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia or upper airway disease such as croup or asthma.
Antibiotics are useless against viruses that cause colds, but may help if bacterial infections
complicate a cold.

Influenza
Influenza, another common, very contagious airborne virus, is sometimes thought of as the
"big brother" of a cold, but colds and influenza are totally different entities. Influenza viruses
are classified as A, B or C by the proteins they're made up of, with A being the most common
cause of influenza, or flu. Influenza A viruses appear every two to three years, compared to
type B viruses, which cycle through every three to five years, on average, and cause milder
disease, the Merck Manual states. Type C doesn't cause typical influenza.
Flu symptoms are more severe than those caused by colds, although the initial symptoms of
runny nose and sore throat are similar; fever is common, lethargy or a sense of profound
exhaustion with chills and severe muscle aches are common. Headache may be severe;
cough is more pronounced in flu as well. Flu lasts up to a week, but fatigue may last several
weeks after the infection. Bacterial complications such as pneumonia are more common after
the flu, especially in the elderly and very young children.
Gastroenteritis
Many people refer to gastrointestinal infections as the flu, although the viruses responsible
are not influenza germs and are not airborne viruses; they're transmitted by poor hand
washing to surfaces or food by people who carry the germs in their intestines.
Gastrointestinal infections can be bacterial, as in the case of salmonella, but are more
commonly viral, such as the rotavirus or norovirus, which often cause large outbreaks in
confined areas such as cruise ships. Gastroenteritis causes vomiting, diarrhea, headache,
fever and abdominal cramps. The elderly and very young can become dehydrated and may
need hospital care to replace fluids.
Measles and Mumps
Measles and mumps are caused by viruses. Measles is a contagious respiratory disease with
symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, fever, red spots in the mouth, or a red or reddish
brown rash. Mumps is infectious disease that can cause a fever, headache, swollen glands or
a loss of appetite. Vaccinations are available for measles and mumps, given in two doses.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) caused by bacteria.
There are often no symptoms of chlamydia or gonorrhea. Some women with the STDs may
have vaginal discharges, painful sensations while urinating and/or bleeding between periods.
Women with gonorrhea may also have abdominal pain, nausea and/or a fever. Some men with
the diseases have painful sensations during urination, burning or itching sensations around
the opening of the penis or discharges from their penis. Both diseases are treatable with
antibiotics.

Chicken Pox and Shingles

Chicken pox is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It generally starts out with
symptoms such as a runny rose, sneezing or a cough. People with the illness also get an
itchy rash. Children generally only have chicken pox for 10 to 14 days and do not need
medication. Calamine lotion can help relieve itching. Adults and older children can get
shingles as a result of chicken pox. A viral disease that is caused by the same virus as
chicken pox, shingles can cause people to have a painful rash, fever, fatigue, pain, numbness
or tingling throughout their body. Shingles is treated with antiviral drugs, tricyclic
antidepressants or anticonvulsants.

Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a disease often caused by one of three viruses. The three most-common forms of
hepatitis are hepatitis A, B and C. Hepatitis affects the functions of the liver. Common
symptoms of all three forms of hepatitis are a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
jaundice or urine that is irregularly colored. There are vaccines available for hepatitis A and
B. The best way to prevent hepatitis C is limit exposure to the virus.

Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease
Hand-foot-mouth disease is caused by an enterovirus. Children younger than10 are most at
risk for getting this disease. Symptoms of the hand, foot and mouth disease include a fever,
headaches, loss of appetite, blisters on the hands or feet, sore throat, or ulcers on the throat,
mouth or tongue. The symptoms of the disease can be treated with over-the-counter drugs,
such as Tylenol.