UNIT 7: HYGIENE AND HEALTH

(READING SKILLS)
ENDEMIC DISEASES
(les maladies endémiques)
i. Introduction
Endemic diseases are sudden outbreak diseases. There are very
dangerous. We can note that in Africa, there are several endemic
diseases. However there is a different between a pandemic, an epidemic
and an endemic disease. Most of them can be avoided.
ii. Characteristics
1. An endemic disease is constantly present in a group or geographic
area. It is not always present at high levels. It can be relatively rare. It is
caused by germs like bacteria or viruses. E.g MALARIA
2. A pandemic disease is a sudden outbreak. It spreads around the world.
It is contagious. E.g: THE CORONA VIRUS
3. An epidemic disease is a sudden outbreak in a limited specific
geographic region. It is contagious and its spreads to many people. E.g
EBOLA FEVER

iii. Examples of some endemic diseases

DISEASES SYMPTOMS MODE OF PREVENTION

TRANSMISSION
Malaria  High fever -Anopheles -remove stagnant water
 Body aches mosquito bites -use insect spray or
 Chills headaches insect repellent or sleep
 Lack of appetite under a mosquito net
_
Ebola  High fever -contact with the -wash your hands with
 Body aches skin or bodily soap and water or a
 Diarrhoea fluids of an hand sanitizer
 Bleeding infected animal -avoid contact with blood
 headaches -from person to and body fluids.
person -do not handle items
from an infected
person’s fluids
AIDS/HIV  fever, headache -sexual -sexual abstinence
 chronic diarrhoea intercourses -use of condom during
_blood transfusion sexual intercourses
  fatigue -mother to her -prenatal cure
 loss of weight unborn baby -avoid sharing any
 skin rash shape object
Poliomyelitis  progressive -Direct contact -vaccination
muscle or joint with someone
weakness and infected with the
pain virus.
 fatigue
 muscle atrophy
Cholera  dehydration -from person to -drink safe
 diarrhoea in very person water(hydration)
large quantities -by drinking -use toilets to defecate
 vomiting contaminated -wash your hands with
 leg cramps water soap and water
 weakness frequently
-take antibiotics
Diarrhoea  stomach cramps -from person to -wash your hands with
 frequent and person soap or hand sanitiser
watery poos -by drinking after using the toilets.
 fever contaminated -Avoid
 stomach water sharing towels
pain/ache

Hepatitis A  nausea and -by eating -wash properly fruits

vomiting contaminated and vegetables
 loss of appetite food -wash your hands
 dark urine before eating and after
using the toilets

Conclusion
“PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE” ONLY A STRICT RESPECT OF SOME
HYGIENIC RULES CAN HELP US TO AVOID THESE DEADFUL DISEASES AND
BREAK THEIR CHAIN OF TRANSMISSION.