Biostatistics and Epidemiology -

Laboratory

Kristine A. Resuento
Midterm Asynchronous Activity No. 1
 According to Wikipedia, “A disease is a particular abnormal condition that
negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is
not due to any immediate external injury. Diseases are often known to be medical
conditions that are associated with specific signs and symptoms.” There are four
types of disease: infectious disease, deficiency disease, hereditary disease, and
physiological disease. It can be also classified as communicable and non-
communicable.
Insect-borne Disease
Insect-borne disease are viral and bacterial illness that can be obtained
through insect bites. Mosquitoes, sand flies, and fleas are the most common insects
that passes diseases.
Insect-borne diseases are caused by the insects who sucks blood, which
causing a person to become infected as they bite. Tall grass, bushes, spots near still
water (ponds), and places around the globe with heavy outbreaks should be
avoided as these places are where blood-sucking insects can be found.
Examples of Insect-Borne Diseases
➢ Mosquitoes
a. Zika Virus – It was first identified in Uganda, 1979, in Monkeys. In
1952, it was identified in humans Uganda and the United Republic of
Tanzania. Zika Virus is transmitted by bite of an infected Aedes
species mosquito. This can’t be transmitted easily person-to-person
however, it may be passed person-to-person during sexual
intercourse.
b. West Nile Virus – It was first seen in the United States in1999.
Infected Culex mosquitoes carries and spreads this kind of virus. A
person who got infected usually shows no symptoms or mild symptoms.
The symptoms include a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and
swollen lymph glands. The West Nile virus does not cause very serious
implications but if the West Nile virus enters the brain it can be life-
threatening as it may cause inflammation of the brain (meningitis).
c. Chikungunya virus – It was first identified in Tanzania in 1952 but
since 2004 it was then spread and been identified in over 60
countries throughout Asia, Europe, Africa and America. It is mostly
transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Severe cases and
deaths from chikungunya are very rare and are almost always
related to other existing health problems.
 d. Dengue – It was first recognized in the 1950s in the Philippines and
Thailand. It is commonly found in tropical and sub-tropical climates
worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Aedes aegypti
mosquito carries this disease.
e. Malaria - Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by
a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which
feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with
high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. The mosquito that can
transmit malaria is a Female Anopheles mosquito.
➢ Flies
a. Food Poisoning – Part of the process of flies when they are eating is
liquefying their food before ingesting it. They do it by placing their
mouthparts in the food source and secreting saliva or regurgitated gut
contents onto it. This process could lead to food poisoning which is
really harmful for humans.
b. Dysentery - Stated by NHS Choices, “Dysentery is an infection of the
intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.” Flies
usually get close to anything, even a garbage or anything filthy. And if
their hands or any part of their body touches your food you should not
eat it as it may be contain any dirt and cause dysentery.
➢ Fleas
a. Bubonic Plague – It is also known as “Black Death” in that became an
epidemic and killed around 25 million people. In the 14th century. The
plague is carried by rodents and transmitted to fleas that bite them,
which is how it is transferred to humans and pets.
b. Murine Typhus - This disease occurs mostly in rat-infested areas. Rats
infects the fleas which causes harm to human and animals. Infected
animals can transmit the virus to a person.
c. Tungiansis – This is commonly found in tropical regions such as West
Indies, CArribean, and Central America. This disease is transmitted by
the burrowing flea (Tunga penetrans), which is also commonly known as
a chigger flea or sand flea (amongst others).
d. Tularemia – It is a potentially serious illness that occurs naturally in
North America. This illness I caused by a Francisella tularensis and
usually found in animals like rodents. This can be transmitted to a
person through bite of an infected flea.
Common symptoms of insect-borne diseases can include:
▪ Fever
 ▪ Chills
▪ Headache
▪ Sore muscles
▪ Skin rash
▪ Nausea
▪ Stomach pain
More serious symptoms can include:
➢ Difficulty breathing
➢ The feeling that your throat is closing
➢ Swelling of your lips, tongue, or face
➢ Chest pain
➢ A racing heartbeat that lasts more than a few minutes
➢ Dizziness
➢ Vomiting

Fecal-Oral Diseases
Fecal-oral diseases are disease that is found in a stool of an infected person.
This can be transmitted to other people when a person had contact in a stool from
an infected person or an object contaminated from a stool is touched. Fecal-oral
disease can be transferred to other person through anal sex. It can also operate
through droplet or airborne transmission through the toilet plume from contaminated
toilets.
The common factors in the fecal-oral route can be summarized as five Fs:
fingers, flies, fields, fluids, and food. Some of the diseases that is caused by fecal-
oral are:
➢ Typhoid
➢ Cholera
➢ Polio
➢ Hepatitis

Food-borne Diseases
Food-borne disease is caused by a food poisoning where harmful organisms
were eaten by a person. These harmful organisms can include bacteria, parasites,
and viruses.
 Symptoms of Food-borne Diseases which can range from mild to severe
and death.
• Upset Stomach
• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Dehydration
There are three (3) main causes of Food-borne Diseases.
• Biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Bacteria and viruses
are responsible for most foodborne illnesses. Biological hazards are the biggest
threat to food safety. They can be inherent in the product or due to mishandling
(e.g., time/temperature abuse).
• Chemical hazards include natural toxins and chemical contaminants. Some natural
toxins are associated with the food itself (i.e., certain mushrooms, PSP in
molluscan shellfish), some are made by pathogens in the food when it is
time/temperature abused (i.e., histamine development in certain seafood
species). Some additives, such as sulfites, can be a hazard to some people.
Chemical contamination can occur when products (i.e., cleaners) are not used
correctly.
Food allergens are a chemical hazard. Some people are sensitive
to proteins in foods. Every food is different. Eight major food allergens
include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish (lobster, crab, shrimp), wheat,
soy, peanuts, tree nuts.
• Physical hazards can include metal shavings from cans and plastic pieces or
broken glass.
Pathogens can cause different types of foodborne illness
Once a contaminated food is eaten, illness can be:
a) Food-borne infection – Pathogens themselves
b) Food-borne intoxication – Toxins produced by the pathogens
c) Food-borne toxic mediated infection - Toxins produced in the body by
pathogens
Soil-borne Diseases
Soil-borne diseases are plant diseases that is caused by a pathogen who
inoculate the host by way of the soil. Unhealthy soils are the ones usually affected
and issues with high levels of disease incidence and pests.
Pathogens that cause diseases are drawn from several taxonomic groups.
Fungi is the largest group, but plant diseases can also be caused by bacteria,
protozoa, viruses and nematodes. Changes in soil factors such as pH, moisture,
temperature and nutrient level can precipitate a disease outbreak.5 These changes
can be a result of a shift in agricultural practices, introduction of new substances to
the soil, or introduction of new crops.
Common Soil-borne Diseases:
• Damping-off – It is a diseased condition of seedlings or cuttings caused by fungi
and marked by wilting or rotting.
• Root Rot – It is caused by numerous fungi, especially Armillaria mellea,
Clitocybe tabescens, and Fusarium, and many oomycetes, including Pythium,
Phytophthora, and Aphanomyces. Plants lose vigour, become stunted and yellow,
and may wilt or die back and drop some leaves.
• Vascular Wilt – are caused by different fungi that attack the vascular (water-
conducting) system of trees. A tree responds by blocking its vascular system to
contain the disease. In doing so, the water supply to the leaves is cut off.
Common vascular wilt diseases include Maple wilt and Oak wilt.
Symptoms
• Tissue discoloration
• Wilting of foliage
• Root decay
• Sudden death.

Water-borne Diseases
Water-borne diseases are the ones caused by pathogenic microbes spread
via contaminated water. Transmission of these pathogens occurs while using infected
water for drinking, food preparation, and washing clothes, among others.
Some waterborne pathogenic microorganisms spread by water can cause
severe, life-threatening diseases.
Examples are:
• Typhoid fever – It is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. Typhoid fever is
rare in developed countries. It is still a serious health threat in the developing
world, especially for children. Contaminated food and water or close contact
with an infected person cause typhoid fever.
• Cholera – Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the
intestine with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. People can get sick when they
swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is
often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-
threatening.
• Hepatitis A or E - Hepatitis A o E is a vaccine-preventable liver infection
caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool and blood of
people who are infected. Hepatitis A is very contagious.
• Diarrhoea
• Other microorganisms induce less dangerous diseases.

Skin Infections
A skin infection is a condition in which germs (bacteria, viruses, or fungi) infect
your skin and sometimes the deep tissues underneath it. In some cases, it's caused by
a parasite invading your skin.
Streptococcal Skin Infections
Streptococcal cellulitis. Streptococcal cellulitis, an acute spreading
inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, usually results from infection of
burns, wounds, or surgical incisions, but may also follow mild trauma. Clinical
findings include local pain, tenderness, swelling, and erythema.
Some Examples of Skin Diseases
• Eczema - Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) is a condition that causes
your skin to become dry, red, itchy and bumpy. It's one of many types of
dermatitis. Eczema damages the skin barrier function (the "glue" of your
skin). This loss of barrier function makes your skin more sensitive and more
prone to infection and dryness.
• Psoriasis - Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, itchy scaly patches,
most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. Psoriasis is a common,
 long-term (chronic) disease with no cure. It tends to go through cycles, flaring
for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission.
• Acne - Acne is a common skin condition where the pores of your skin become
blocked by hair, sebum (an oily substance), bacteria and dead skin cells.
Those blockages produce blackheads, whiteheads, nodules and other types
of pimples. If you have acne, know you're not alone.

Air-borne Diseases
Airborne disease can spread when people with certain infections cough,
sneeze, or talk, spewing nasal and throat secretions into the air. Some viruses or
bacteria take flight and hang in the air or land on other people or surfaces.
When you breathe in airborne pathogenic organisms, they take up residence
inside you. You can also pick up germs when you touch a surface that harbors them,
and then touch your own eyes, nose, or mouth. Because these diseases travel in the
air, they’re hard to control.
Examples of Air-borne Diseases
• The common cold – Runny nose is one of the common symptoms of common
cold. There are many viruses that can cause a cold, but it’s usually a
rhinovirus.
• Influenza - Most of us have some experience with the flu. It spreads so easily
because it’s contagious about a day before you notice the first symptoms.
• Chickenpox - Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. If you have
chickenpox, you can spread it for a day or two before you get the telltale
rash. It takes up to 21 days after exposure for the disease to develop.
• Mumps - Mumps is another very contagious viral disease. You can spread it
before symptoms appear and for up to 5 days after.
• Measles - Measles is a very contagious disease, particularly in crowded
conditions. The virus that causes measles can remain active in the air or on
surfaces for up to 2 hours. You’re able to transmit it to others up to 4 days
before and 4 days after the measles rash appears. Most people get the
measles only once.
• Diphtheria – This disease injures your respiratory system and can damage
your heart, kidneys, and nerves.
Airborne diseases usually result in one or more of the following symptoms:
 ▪ Inflammation of your nose, throat, sinuses, or lungs
▪ Coughing
▪ Sneezing
▪ Congestion
▪ Runny nose
▪ Sore throat
▪ Swollen glands
▪ Headache
▪ Body aches
▪ Loss of appetite
▪ Fever
▪ Fatigue
Tubercolosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a type of bacterium called Mycobacterium
tuberculosis.
It's spread when a person with active TB disease in their lungs coughs or sneezes
and someone else inhales the expelled droplets, which contain TB bacteria.
Although TB is spread in a similar way to a cold or flu, it is not as contagious.
You would have to spend prolonged periods (several hours) in close contact with an
infected person to catch the infection yourself.
For example, TB infections usually spread between family members who live in the
same house. It would be highly unlikely for you to become infected by sitting next to
an infected person on, for instance, a bus or train.
Not everyone with TB is infectious. Children with TB or people with a TB
infection that occurs outside the lungs (extrapulmonary TB) do not spread the
infection.
Latent or active TB
In most healthy people, the immune system is able to destroy the bacteria that
cause TB.
But in some cases, the bacteria infect the body but do not cause any symptoms
(latent TB), or the infection begins to cause symptoms within weeks, months or even
years (active TB).
 Up to 10% of people with latent TB eventually develop active TB years after
the initial infection.
This usually happens either within the first year or two of infection, or when
the immune system is weakened – for example, if someone is having chemotherapy
treatment for cancer.
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