UNIT 7: Infection, Morbidity, and Mortality in the

Philippines
GRADE 8

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are among the most serious problems that humans face regarding health
concerns. There are many infectious diseases known to man, and a good number of these are fatal
if not treated correctly.

Causes of Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are diseases that are caused by a pathogen . A pathogen is any organism or
virus that can cause diseases. Non-infectious diseases have other causes, like tumors,
autoimmunity, and others.

Pathogens that are considered organisms can range from bacteria, fungi, protozoans, or parasites.
Viruses are also common pathogens although they are not considered to be organisms.

How People Can Get Infectious Diseases

There are many ways that infectious diseases are acquired. Some of these include the following:
● zoonoses are diseases transferred from animals to humans. These include animal bites or
contact with animals;
● direct contact from person to person;
● through spreading within the environment, like in air or water; ● fomites, which are objects that
can pass on infections; or, ● contamination of edible items and food.
Just because a person was in contact with a disease-causing agent does not necessarily mean
that the person will immediately get infected. There are many factors at play, like the immunity
of a person, that can determine whether the disease will be passed on.
Stages of an Infection
The stages of an infection refer to the steps that describe the state of the pathogen and host
regarding the progression of an infectious disease.

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Incubation Stage
The incubation stage is from the entry of the pathogen or exposure of the organisms to the
pathogen until the appearance of the initial symptoms of the infectious disease. The incubation
stage typically still does not have a large number of pathogens which is why the disease does not
show signs during this phase.

What follows after the incubation stage is the prodromal stage, which is marked by the
appearance of initial symptoms.

Prodromal Stage
The prodromal stage is usually very short and characterized by the appearance of the symptoms
that are not yet severe.

The pathogens are continuing to reproduce and invade the host during this stage. What follows
after is the acute stage.

Acute Stage
The acute stage is usually the stage that is considered to be the most infectious, and the most
significant signs and symptoms of the disease typically appear in this stage. This phase is marked
by a large number of pathogens sufficient enough to let the disease show.

The body eventually fights off the infection which leads to a decline in the number of pathogens
present. The convalescent stage follows after.

Convalescence Stage
The convalescent stage is when the body starts to come back to the state that it was before
the infection happened. Not all functions can return, as some infections are too severe and may
cause high amounts of damage that the convalescent stage cannot recover from.
Leading Infectious Diseases Causing Morbidity and Mortality in The Philippines

Morbidity refers to the status of a person being sick and unhealthy, while mortality refers to the
rate of death due to specific causes.

Top Causes of Mortality in the Country

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 According to the Department of Health, the top causes of Philippine mortality include the
following non-infectious diseases:
● heart disease;
● vascular disease, which are diseases of blood vessels;
● cancers, which are caused by the abnormal growth of cells and tissues;
● accidents;
● chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or COPD, which leads to difficulty in breathing;
● diabetes, which is characterized by high blood sugar; and, ● nephritis, or an inflammation of the
kidneys.
However, there are also some infectious diseases that cause mortalities. These include the
following:
● pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung’s alveoli, which are the sacs in the lungs where
gas exchange happens. Different types of pathogens may cause this;
● tuberculosis, which is a disease caused by a species of bacteria and can affect the lungs
and other body parts;
● infectious diseases that accompany COPD; and, ● other respiratory diseases.
Top Causes of Morbidity in the Country
Of the top 10 leading causes of morbidity in the Philippines, 9 of these are infectious diseases that are
the most prevalent in public. These include the following:
● the different forms of tuberculosis;
● dengue fever, which is caused by a virus that is passed on by mosquito bites;
● acute watery diarrhea , which is a type of diarrhea caused mostly by viruses;
● influenza , also known as the flu, is caused by the influenza virus;
● bronchitis , an inflammation of the bronchi which are the tubes that connect to the

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 lungs;
● urinary tract infections are inflammations in the urogenital system, commonly in the bladder or
urethral tubes;
● ALTRI (acute lower respiratory tract infection) and pneumonia ; and,
● acute respiratory infections , which are usually viral and can affect the different parts of the
respiratory system.

Fig. 5 . 10 leading causes of morbidity in the Philippines, 2014 data.

Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines
https://www.doh.gov.ph/morbidity

Of the 10, only hypertension is not an infectious disease. Hypertension refers to a condition
where a person’s blood pressure is continuously above normal levels.