St.

Therese of the Child Jesus Kidz Academy

20 Sto. Rosario St. Karuhatan, Valenzuela City

SECOND QUARTER
LESSONS 1 to 3

HEALTH 8
PREPARED BY:
MS. ABIGAIL D. AURELIO
 3RD QUARTER
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COMMON COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES

This quarter analyze how one can demonstrate an

understanding of principles in the prevention and
control of communicable diseases. As you explore
the different topics you will see your personal
responsibility and healthful practices in the
prevention and control of communicable diseases.
In addition, you will learn correct information
and appropriate life skills that will help you become
responsible in practicing healthful habits that will
keep you and others safe from contacting
communicable diseases.

Contents
TITLE PAGE
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF COMMON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
LESSON 1: STAGES OF INFECTIONS 4
 TOP 10 Leading Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in the Philippines 5
LESSON 2: Most Common Communicable Diseases and their 6
Prevention and Control
A. Acute respiratory Infections
B. Common Predisposing Factors Causing the Diseases 7
1. Bronchitis
2. Common Cold 8
3. Pneumonia
4. Influenza 9
5. Tuberculosis (TB)
6. Dengue 10
7. Sexuality Transmitted Infection (STIs) 12
8. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) 13
LESSON 3: EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING DISEASES 15
1. Leptospirosis
2. Meninggococcemia
3. H1N1 Flu 16
4. Foot and Mouth Disease
5. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
6. Chikungunya 17
7. Avian Flu
 Mode of transmission and Preventive Measures 18
 Infectious Agent in order to avoid and prevention. 21

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 PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF
LESSON COMMON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

OBJECTIVES
MELC:
 Enumerate steps in the prevention and control of common
communicable diseases.
Essential Question:
How importance of knowing the symptoms of different diseases?
What are the things you should do to prevent common diseases?
Essential Understanding:
The learner should be able to understanding of principles in the prevention and
control of communicable diseases;
At the end of this module, the learners are expected to:
 Discuss the stages of infection.
 Identifies the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines.
 Discuss the most common diseases and its prevention and control.
 Correct misconceptions, myths and beliefs about common communicable
diseases.
 Analyze the nature of emerging and re-emerging diseases.

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY

Read the questions and respond by checking the box provided.

M if the statement describes you most of the time,
S if the statement describes you some of the time, and
N if the statement never applies to you.
QUESTION M S N
1 I stay away from people who currently have cold or flu.
2 I eat a balanced diet daily.
3 I get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
4 I exercise aerobically at least three times a week.
5 I avoid using towels that others have used.
6 I avoid using other people’s combs and brushes.
7 I take a few minutes each day to relax.
8 I stay at home within the first day when symptoms of an illness
appear.
9 I listen and respond to my body that it is tired or that something
may be wrong
10 I wash my hands before and after every meal, before
preparing food, and after using the toilet.

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 Prevention and Control of Common Communicable Diseases

LESSON 1: STAGES OF INFECTIONS

Diseases affect almost everyone. It is very important for everyone to know that
many diseases can be prevented and controlled. Knowing the different stages of
communicable diseases can help you prevent their spread.

The figure below shows the different stages of the course of a disease and
recovery. From the time the disease agent enters the body up to the time the body
starts to recover, you should know what to do.

The first stage is a latent period and the person may not even know that
he/she is a carrier of the disease because no sign or symptom appears. The next
stage will be the disease appearance of signs and symptoms and it is only the time
that the dice what disease can be diagnosed as the symptoms indicate what
diseases can a person may be suffering from.

Symptomatic treatment should be instituted to the sick person. Follow the

advice of the doctor strictly. Then the peak period comes, where the person feels
the worst as all the symptoms occur at its height. After proper medication, the
disease infection declines but relapse may occur if the person will not take extra
care. If relapse will not take place then recovery continues and the body returns to
normal health and this is the convalescent stage or recovery phase.

 Stage 1 Agent breaks through body defenses

 Stage 2 Incubation period
 Stage 3 Prodromal stage First symptoms begin to occur
 Stage 4 The Peak stage Disease at worse stage symptom-wise
 Stage 5 Decline/relapse phase Recovery begins/relapse possible
 Stage 6 Convalescent/recovery phase Begins to return to normal health

Stage 1 and mid of stage 2 is a latent period. In the last phase of stage 2 up to early
part of stage 5, these are the communicable periods of the infectious disease. From
stage 3 to mid of stage 6, the disease is very evident. From stage 5 to 6,
communicability is possible but unlikely.

If you know the different stages of infections you will know what to do when
the first symptoms appear. It will also help you prevent the spread of infection and
prevent the possibility of relapse.

In the Philippines, there are diseases that are the causes of illness of most
Filipinos. Look at the table below and find out which among these diseases are
infectious.

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Top 10 Leading Causes of Morbidity and Mortality in the Philippines

There are 10 leading causes of illness and death of people in the Philippines. If you
will analyze the different diseases in the chart, what type of diseases predominantly
causes illness in the Philippines? Are they communicable or non-communicable
diseases? Why do you think so?

The table above shows the 10 leading causes of death among Filipinos. How
many among these diseases are communicable? How many of these diseases are
non communicable? Analyze the chart and find out the answer
From the two tables presented, what diseases are alarming in the sense that
many Filipinos died due to these diseases? Can we do something to prevent or
control these diseases?

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LESSON 2: Most Common Communicable Diseases and Their Prevention
and Control

Acute infectious diseases are fast-developing, temporary conditions. Common

acute infections are common cold, flu, and chicken pox. Once the disease agents
take hold, the illness runs a definite course and then weakens. The infections might
be mild or severe depending on the health care the person has given
himself/herself,

Some infections are chronic, it means a disease can cause damage over a long
period of time. Some infections recur frequently. Some can be a lifelong problem. If
left untreated acute infections can become chronic.

a. Acute Respiratory Infections

Morbidity (sickness) and mortality (death) from acute respiratory diseases are
especially significant among children. In the 10 leading causes of sickness and
death as reported by the Department of Health Disease Intelligence Center, five out
of the 10 were respiratory infections with bronchitis ranking third. The relatively high
incidence of these diseases among adults results in disability and economic loss. This
makes respiratory diseases a major health problem in the country,

Myths, Misconceptions, and Beliefs about Acute Respiratory Infections

There are myths and misconceptions about viral respiratory infections such as:

1. I take antibiotic; I will not spread my illness to others. Viral illnesses such as flu and
colds are usually spread from one person to another before the onset of symptoms.
Taking antibiotics cannot stop its spread

2. If I get flu. I will take antibiotics to cure it Seasonal flu or influenza cannot be
treated with antibiotic medications. Antibiotics target bacteria only since influenza is
caused by virus so antibiotics do not work. If you think you have influenza, see your
doctor early so he/she can give you antiviral medication.

Prevention and Control of Acute Respiratory Infections

It is better to prevent harmful respiratory infections. You can do it by practicing

healthful habits or practices such as

1. Wash your hands after you have been in a public place. Frequent hand washing,
either with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers (containing 200%
alcohol) when soap and water are not available.

2. Minimize close contact with people who are coughing and sneezing

3. Cover your nose and mouth with handkerchief or tissue when coughing and
sneezing to prevent the infectious disease from spreading

4. Avoid touching your eyes and mouth when your hands are dirty to prevent
introducing germs into your system.

5. Have plenty of Vitamin C in your diet to help boost your immune system

6. Vaccines are available to prevent a number of respiratory diseases, including

influenza, S. pneumonia infection, H. influenza type B infection (in young children),
pertussis, diphtheria, varicella, and measles,
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b. Common Predisposing Factors causing the Disease
These problems and conditions predispose one to diseases:
1. Protein-energy malnutrition
2. Poor environmental conditions
3. Socio-economic problems

The early signs and symptoms of any respiratory diseases are:

1. acute catarrh ( mucus/phlegm) characterized by runny nose
2. watery eyes
3. headache
4. sneezing
5. sore throat
6. malaise
7. stuffiness of the nose
8. irritation of the naso-pharynx with tickling sensation

1. Bronchitis ranks third among the causes of illness in the country. It starts with nasal
catarrh and slight fever followed by dry cough, which
gradually becomes productive and more frequent.

 Acute bronchitis is due to viral agents. It may be

found in association with influenza, measles, pertussis,
and diphtheria. It develops when the bronchi and
bronchial tubes that carry air to and from the lungs
becomes swollen. This inflammation leads to
increased mucus which clogs the airways and
causes the heavy cough.

 Acute bronchitis can also be brought about by

irritants such as dust, cigarette smoke, and
chemical fumes. If you have a healthy heart and
lungs, bronchitis usually clears up in several days.
Its signs and symptoms are the following:
1. Persistent hacking, dry or wet cough that
brings up green, gray, or yellowish mucus
2. Wheezing and shortness of breath
3. Pain in the upper chest, made worse by fits of coughing
4. Fever of 100 degrees or higher

What to do if you have the following signs and symptoms?

1 Stay at home and rest.
2. Inhale steam from a vaporizer or a pot of hot water or take hot This will
loosen mucus in your lungs.
3. Drink a lot of liquid at least 8 to 10 glasses a day.

Myths, Misconceptions, and Beliefs about Bronchitis

1. There is no effective home remedy for bronchitis. This does not hold true for
every person Home remedies such as drinking lots of fluid and hydrating the
body with broths every two hours can work effectively for most people who
have overall good health.

2. Kids have a greater chance of getting bronchitis.

Kids do not get bronchitis, adults do. Bronchitis is primarily due to
damage done to the lining of the lungs due to smoking in most cases. Smoke
destroys the lining of the lungs and creates the perfect environment for
Page 7
 growth of bacteria in that area. When people say kids have a greater
chance of catching bronchitis, it is based on the assumption that children are
more susceptible to infections than adults are. However, cough in children is
caused by a virus. Antibiotics do not work on viruses. Only time can cure
them. Children should be given warm fluid to drink if they have a throat
irritation or a bad cough. Common cold is very contagious. It may make a
person feels miserable but it usually lasts only for two or three days.

2. Common cold is characterized by sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, flushed cheeks,

slight fever and cough, sore throat and hoarseness and loss
of appetite.

There is no cure for common cold, but there are things you
can do to lessen your discomfort. Stay home for a few days
not only to rest and recover but also to avoid spreading
the disease to others. There are other ways that you can
do to feel better such as:

1. Drink a lot of fluid to avoid dehydration

2. If you have a sore throat, gargle with salt water a few times a day
3. Avoid smoking and smoky places

How to Prevent Common Cold?

Since cold viruses can be transmitted through handshakes, and can lurk on
doorknobs, and counters, wash your hands often to get rid of the viruses. You
should also do these:
1. Drink a lot of fluid.
2. Take good care of your health.
3. Stay away from people who have cold.
4. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.

3. Pneumonia is the inflammation of the lung tissues. It ranks second among 10

leading causes of morbidity in the Philippines and ranks forth
among 10 leading causes of mortality. The incidence of
pneumonia is higher among infants and is the leading cause
of death among infants.

Any of the respiratory diseases can progress to

pneumonia when left untreated. This is also true when the
individual has low resistance. malnourished, very young, or
very old.

Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia

1. chest pain
2. shortness of breath
3. shaking chills, and high fever
4. Mucus that is greenish, greenish-yellow, rust colored, or streaked with blood

Other Signs and Symptoms

1. delirium
2. vomiting
3. bluish lips and nails
4. sweating, rapid pulse, and rapid breathing
5. diarrhea, headache, or pain in the muscles

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What to Do If You Have Pneumonia?
1. Drink a lot of fluid.
2. Avoid cough suppressants if you have a wet cough. Coughing up mucus
will help you recover.
3. Put hot compress on your chest to make you more comfortable.
4. Avoid smoking and smoky places.
5. Take all the medicines prescribed by your doctor to avoid relapse.

Prevention and Control of Pneumonia

1. Avoid smoking, smoky places, heavy drinking as these resistances to fight
off infections. weaken your
2. Avoid close contact with people with respiratory infection.
3. Eat a balanced diet.
4. Exercise regularly

Myths Misconceptions about Pneumonia

1. Pneumonia is an aggravated condition of bronchitis. This misconception
does not hold true although both are diseases of the respiratory tract
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs Pneumonia
is a respiratory condition wherein there is an inflammation of the lungs.
Bronchitis can be controlled through proper medication whereas pneumonia
is relatively a more serious respiratory disease and is considered difficult to
treat

2. Antibiotics always cure pneumonia. Pneumonia is not always treatable by

antibiotics. Only bacterial pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, and in
some cases it doesn't respond. The bacteria may grow to resist the antibiotic
making it ineffective. Also, if a patient is given a prescription for antibiotics
and doesn't finish the whole prescription the bacteria may be more likely to
resist the antibiotics

4. Influenza is a very contagious disease caused by a virus.

Its signs and symptoms include the following:
1. chills, followed by fever
2. general weakness
3. aches and pains
4. loss of appetite
5. sore throat
6. dry cough
7. inflammation of the nose and pharynx

Prevention and Control of Influenza

Flu virus is spread through the spray from coughs and sneezes Keep distance
from people with flu to lessen your chances of the infection. You can also prevent
and control influenza by doing the following:
1. Wash your hands frequently to reduce your risk of catching cold or flu,
Proper hand washing helps remove germs

2. Avoid smoking and smoky places

3. Keep your immune system healthy by:
a) eating nutritious foods
b) doing regular exercise
c) having an adequate sleep
d) keeping stress level low
e) drinking a lot of water, at least 8 to 10 glasses a day

Page 9
 To prevent influenza, there are vaccines available. If you have this vaccine.
you will be immune for about a year, so you need booster dose.

5. Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacterial infiltration of the

respiratory systems. Tubercle bacilli are the germs that
cause pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) which primarily affect
the lungs. This disease remains to be a serious problem in
many countries. Once rare in developed countries,
tuberculosis infections began increasing in some
developed countries in 1985, partly because of the
emergence of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV
weakens a person's immune system so it can't fight the TB
germs. In the Philippines, it still ranks number eighth
among 10 leading causes of morbidity or illness and ranks sixth among 10 leading
causes of mortality or death in the Philippines.

Signs and Symptoms of Tuberculosis

1. cough for two weeks or more
2. progressive loss of weight and appetite for one month or more
3. chest and back pain for one month or more
4. blood streaks in the sputum or bloody sputum
5. on and off low grade fever for a month or more

Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis

1. BCG vaccine is given to infants at birth or within their first month, followed
by a booster dose at age 7. This vaccine gives the child 10 to 15 years
protection from THE
2. To build strong resistance, cat nutritious and adequate meals.
3. Cover the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing to avoid the
spread of germs.
4. When spitting, use pieces of tissue paper then dispose it properly by
burning. burying, or flushing.
5. Be sure to wash hands properly to remove germs that you may have picked
up from fomites in direct contact with infectious sputum.
6. Keep the house clean and well ventilated to allow fresh air to circulate.

Myths/Misconceptions about Tuberculosis

Always get the correct information about the disease, do not believe these
myths/misconceptions.
1. IFTB runs in the family. It is a genetic/hereditary ailment:
It is based on the observation that several members within the same
family were often seen afflicted one after the other. It is because a germ can
attack simply anyone. Heredity or genes have simply no role, The source of
these germs is a TB patient. When a full-blown patient of
lung TB coughs, these germs spread out into the air around him/her: they
keep hanging and floating on air. A family member may inhale them during
normal breathing and may get infected. Since the rich and the poor have at
least one thing in common---the air they breathe in, no one is immune from
the risk of being infected.

2. There is no cure for TB; It means sure death.

TB is curable. Effective anti-TB medicines have been available since
1950. However, there is one problem-treatment of TB takes a minimum of 6-8
months. Medicines must be taken this long for complete cure. Most patients
discontinue medication prematurely, once their symptoms stop within a
couple of months and so a relapse occurs

P a g e 10
 3. TB is highly infectious
This is not true because only a prolonged indoor and close contact with
a sputum positive patient may lead to infection. The chance of being
infected is low if we meet the patient (source of germs) outdoors, as the
germs coughed up by him/her get infinitely diluted in the atmospheric air;
germs are swept away with the wind direct sunlight rapidly kills these germs.
For this reason, a sputum positive patient is advised to spend most of his/her
time out in the open-in a farm, in a park, in a terrace rather than in a closed,
unventilated, crowded room

7. Dengue is usually transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. It is caused by virus.

Symptoms appear about 4 to 10 days after being bitten by
the AedesAegypti mosquito.
The following are the signs and symptoms of the disease.
1. headaches
2. sore throat
3. slow pulse rate
4. low blood pressure
5. pain in the lower back and joints
6. fever rising rapidly in severe cases
7. a feeling of nervousness and depression

After about the third or fourth day, fever may disappear and the temperature
drops to normal. The victim feels better but after a day or two temperature
rises again and the pain reappears. Rashes appear on hands, and feet and
spread all over the body.

Dengue can be prevented and treated by doing the following:

1. Keep the house and the vicinity clean. Remove all possible breeding
places of mosquitoes
2. Consult a doctor when symptoms appear.

Myths Misconceptions about Dengue Fever

1. Every mosquito can cause dengue fever.
Only Aedes Aegypti mosquito causes dengue fever.

2 Mosquitoes carrying the virus causing dengue fever breed in sewer

water and river water
Mosquito breeds in the backyard, at home, in stagnant water from old
trees and used tires, trash cans, flower pots, and pools. These mosquitoes are
active during the day and bites during the day.

3. Beware of mosquitoes that spread dengue at night.

Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes are active only at dawn and at dusk. These
mosquitoes bite anytime in the day when you are indoor or outdoor but not at
night

4. If you have low platelet counts-it must be dengue. It can be dengue or not
dengue either. There are a lot of diseases accompanied by fever and low
platelet count such as hepatitis, HIV, chikunggunya, malaria, and others. The
best way to know if it is dengue or not is to consult a doctor.

P a g e 11
7. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Teenagers should learn about the danger of
sexually transmitted diseases. Teenagers are at greater
risk of getting STIS because of ignorance or lack of
knowledge about the diseases. To avoid these, they
should learn more about STIs. They should also be
discouraged from becoming sexually active until they are
more mature and ready for the responsibilities. They
should know the risks of becoming a teenage parent if
they will not control their emotions.
The main risk that a sexually active teenager faces today is the transmission of
sexually transmitted infections (STI) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Sexually transmitted diseases or STIs are infectious diseases that are transmitted by
sexual contact. These diseases spread because the microorganisms usually live in
the infected person's genitals or in the mouth or anus, where they have been
transmitted during sexual activity.
There are three types of STIs such as bacterial, viral, and bugs. Bacterial are
transients and can be treated and kicked out of our system. But these diseases can
cause great damage to the body if not treated early. Some examples are the
following:

1. Gonorrhea can cause infertility, heart disease, damage to the urinary tract,
blindness, and damage to the unborn baby.

Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea 2 to 10 days after infection are the

following:
a) yellowish discharge from vagina or penis
b) burning and itching sensation when urinating for women, abdominal pain
and bleeding between periods.
Treatment consists of antibiotics. Patient should abstain from having
sexual contact.

2. Chlamydia is a major cause of infertility and a risk factor to cervical cancer.

It is a bacterial disease that can result in pelvic inflammatory disease in
women or sterility. A baby born to a mother with chlamydia may develop
pneumonia and eye infections.

Signs and symptoms of Chlamydia one to three days after infection:

a) Watery mucus from penis or vagina
b) Burning sensation while urinating
c) Mild lower abdominal pain See a doctor for immediate treatment.

3. Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can damage the brain, nervous system,
and heart. It causes blindness, deafness, heart disease, and insanity. Infected
mother may pass to infants the disease during childbirth and it may result to
stillbirth or crippled baby.

Signs and symptoms of syphilis 10 days to 3 months after infection are the
following:
a) painless open sore on or in genitals, rectal area, mouth
b) enlarged lymph nodes in area of sores
c) mild fever, rash, patchy hair loss, and sore throat which may recur (These
will happen if not treated 3 weeks to several months (2nd stage).] d) Loss of
balance, paralysis, dementia, numbness in legs, and blindness (rarely) [may
happen 5-30 years later (3rd stage)]

P a g e 12
 See a doctor immediately when infected with syphilis. Avoid sexual contact to
prevent spreading the disease.

4. Chancroid causes sores on the genitals

and enlarged lymph nodes.

The viral STI's are permanent and you cannot

kick them out of your system once you got
these diseases.

These STI's are the following:

1. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causes small, red, flat, round, itchy bumps inside or
on outer genital area or around anus. Women with cervical lesion caused by HPV
have a higher risk of cervical cancer.

2. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

stays and manifests in the system. It is a
deadly disease with no cure yet. It may
progress to full blown AIDS or Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome. This is the
final stage of HIV.

The sexually transmitted skin

infestations are caused by tiny bugs Pubic
lice is one example. Pubic lice attach
themselves to the base of pubic hair where they bite the skin and lay their eggs

Sexually transmitted Infections are different from other diseases because of the
following:
a) No vaccines are available to prevent them
b) No known cure is available
c) The body does not build up immunity to any STI.

The only sure way to avoid getting most STIS is through abstinence or avoiding
sexual activity.

8. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide epidemic now. It is

caused by HIV, which is found in blood, semen,
vaginal fluids, and sometimes in saliva and
breastmilk. It is commonly spread through sexual
contact or by sharing unsterilized needles and
intravenous needles. AIDS can be passed from an
infected mother to her infant during childbirth or
breast feeding. It is not spread through casual
contact such as hugging, using same towel and
others.

HIV destroys the white blood cells that fight off infections. Symptoms appear after
few weeks to years.

These symptoms include:

1. fever
2. diarrhea
3. weight loss
4. swollen glands
5. fatigue/tiredness

P a g e 13
 The incubation period of HIV infection is very long, it progresses to AIDS after
many years. The incubation period is the interval between infections with HIV to
development of AIDS.

When it progresses to AIDS a person manifests the different symptoms of AIDS such
as the following:
1. white spots in the mouth
2. persistent dry cough
3. diminished appetite
4. extreme and constant fatigue without an apparent reason.
5. rapid weight loss
6. swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarms, and groin area
7. skin blotches
8. diarrhea
9. recurrent fever, chills, and night sweats

Myths/Misconceptions Common Folk Beliefs about Sexually Transmitted Diseases

(STDs)

Remember, these misconceptions have no scientific basis.

1. Only promiscuous people get STDs.
STDs can be transmitted to anybody, they do not discriminate. The only
people who are not at risk of getting an STD are people who have not had any kind
of sexual contact. Everyone else can get it-rich, poor, popular, smart, foolish, even
someone having sex for the very first time.

2. You can get an STD from a toilet seat.

This is not true. The viruses or bacteria that cause STDs cannot survive outside
of the human body for very long. You cannot acquire an STD by sitting on a toilet
bowl.

3. You can only get the same STD once.

STDs that are caused by viruses, such as HIV and herpes, are yours for life. They
cannot be treated, only managed. Other STDs, such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, or
syphilis, can be treated and cured, but you can easily be infected again if you have
sexual contact with someone who has them.

Prevention and Control of STDs

You can reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV by practicing the following:
1 abstinence from sexual intercourse
2 sexual fidelity to one partner
3. avoiding sharing needles, syringes, and other medical equipment

P a g e 14
LESSON 3: EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING DISEASES

1. Leptospirosis is caused by spirochete bacteria known as Leptospira interrogans.

This disease is spread by the urine of infected
animals, both domesticated and wild. The bacteria
can survive in the water and soil for months.
Symptoms and signs of leptospirosis are highly
variable and range from no symptoms to nonspecific
symptoms Including:
1. chills
2. high fever
3. headache
4. kidney or liver failure, respiratory failure
5. meningitis

You have a high risk of getting infected when you have close association with
animals and the water and soil they may have contaminated with infected urine.
There are antibiotics that are effective in treating leptospirosis.
Flood water may be contaminated with infected urine.

2. Meningococcemia
- is a contagious disease. It has a carrier stage which
makes it difficult to identify a person carrying the
bacteria.

Meningococcemia bacteria are found in the nose,

mouth, and throat of healthy persons.
The symptoms of meningococcemia include:
1 vomiting
2. headache
3. coughing
4 dizziness
5. stiff neck
6. high fever
7. drowsiness
8. convulsions
9. purple rashes
10. unstable vital signs

Children are most vulnerable to this disease because of their low resistance,
but it can affect people of all ages. This disease is dangerous and about 5-15% of
those with this disease dies within the period of 24-48 hours.
Early detection and treatment with penicillin increase the chances of survival.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) the following measures must
be observed to avoid getting the disease.
1. Avoid crowded places.
2. Maintain a clean environment.
3. Wash hands frequently with soap and water,
4. Avoid close contact with meningococcemia patients
5. Increase resistance by maintaining a healthy lifestyle-including a nutritious, well-
balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate rest and sleep, and avoiding tobacco
and alcohol.
6. Do not share utensils, cups, water bottles, lipstick, cigarettes, musical instruments
with mouthpieces, mouth guards, or anything else that has been in the mouth of an
infected person
P a g e 15
3. HIN1 flu
-is also known as swine flu because in the
past those infected with it had direct
contact with pigs. Now that notion has
changed due to the fact that even those
who have not been exposed to pigs get the
disease. You can protect yourself from
getting infected with the disease by having
a flu vaccine or flu shot, yearly.
People infected with swine flu can be
contagious one day before they have any
symptoms, and for seven days after they
get sick. Kids can be contagious for as long
as 10 days.

Most symptoms are the same as regular flu. They can include the following:
1. chills 2. fever 3. cough
4. fatigue 5. headache 6. sore throat
7. body aches 8. stuffy or runny nose

4. Foot and mouth disease

-is caused by virus. It is commonly spread by
the feces-to-mouth route but the virus can also
be inhaled. Once infected, symptoms usually
show up in three to six days. Symptoms include
the following:
1. tiredness
2. low fever
3. an itchy rash with red spots. lumps, and/or
small blister on the feet
4. small, raw, canker-like sores on the tongue
and inside of the cheeks that makes the mouth painful.

There is no specific treatment, but the child's discomfort can be eased at home.
Prevention of the disease includes the following practices:
1. Make sure children wash their hands properly after using the toilet
2. See that children do not share glasses, silverware, or toys that have been in other
children's mouth.
3. Choose a babysitter or day care center with high standards of cleanliness.
Frequent hand washing especially after diaper changes is important.

5. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

- is a viral disease caused by a virus called SARS
associated with coronavirus (SARS-CoV) It can
spread through close contact with infected
person and through droplet secretion The signs
and symptoms include the following:
1. high fever
2. headaches
3. body aches
4. difficulty in breathing
5. overall feeling of discomfort
6. mild respiratory symptoms
7. diarrhea for some patients
8. pneumonia may develop
9. dry cough after two to seven days

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To avoid SARS see to it that you do not share drinking glasses and eating utensils with
the infected person. Avoid close contact such as kissing hugging touching, and
even talking too close to a person. Be sure you are within three feet away when
talking to someone with SARS.

6. Chikungunya
- is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the
bite of Infected Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. Its
incubation period is 2 to 12 days, but usually it
may be from 3 to 7 days only.

Those with acute chikungunya fever may

experience it for few days to a couple of weeks
but the feeling of fatigue may last for several
weeks. Patient will also suffer from joint pain or
arthritis which may last to several weeks to
several months.

Signs and symptoms of chikungunya include the following:

1 nausea 2. headache 3. vomiting
4. swelling of joints 5. stiffness of joints 6. rash and fever
7. fatigue (weakness) 8. myalgia (muscular pain)
9. debilitating arthralgia (joint pain)

Prevention of chikungunya includes the following:

1. Avoid mosquito bite by wearing long sleeved shirts and pants.
2. Use mosquito repellent on exposed skin.
3. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out.
4. Secure your windows and doors with screens to keep mosquitoes out
5. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly
6. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots,
drums, and pails.

7. Avian flu
- is common among birds but during
an outbreak of avian influenza
among poultry. There is a higher
possibility of contacting the disease if
an Individual comes in contact with
infected birds or their secretion.
Signs and symptoms of avian flu
include the following:
1. typical human influenza-like
symptoms (examples: fever, cough,
sore throat, and muscle aches)
2. eye infections
3. pneumonia
4. severe respiratory diseases (such as
acute respiratory
5. severe and life-threatening
complications distress)

Avoid contact with birds during the outbreak of avian flu to prevent being infected.

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 Mode of
transmission Examples of diseases PREVENTIVE MEASURES

I – DIRECT

1. Contact Hand, foot and mouth disease,  Adopt proper isolation for the sick.
transmission No human contact.

(Kissing)

Acute conjunctivitis,  Keep both hands clean and perform hand

hygiene properly.

(handshakes with
a sick person) Scabies

 Clean and disinfect properly the items

used by patients.

(sleeping with Head lice

someone with lice)
 Do not share towels and other personal
items.

 Wear gloves when making contact with

patients.

Chickenpox

2. Food-borne/ Viral gastroenteritis,  Ensure all food is adequately cooked

water-borne especially high risk food like shellfish.
transmission

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 Food poisoning,

 Perform hand hygiene before meals

and after going to the toilet.

Cholera,

Bacillary dysentery,
Hepatitis A,

 Handle vomitus and excreta properly.

Hepatitis E
 Sick food handlers should refrain from
work and seek medical advice early.

3. Vector-borne Dengue fever,  Maintain environmental hygiene to

transmission prevent breeding of insects / mosquitoes, e.g.
(usually insects) prevent accumulation of stagnant water.

Mosquito bites
And
Insect bites

Malaria,
 Take personal protection to prevent
insect /mosquito bites, e.g. wear light-
coloured, long-sleeved clothes and
trousers/pants and use insect
repellents.

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 Japanese encephalitis

II – INDIRECT

1. Droplet Influenza,  Maintain good indoor ventilation

transmission

Common cold,
(Coughing)  Keep both hands clean. In particular,
perform hand hygiene properly and
immediately after making contact with
sick persons having respiratory secretions.

Streptococcus

 Cover mouth and nose when sneezing

or coughing. Use tissue papers to
(Sneezing) contain respiratory secretions and
dispose them in garbage bins with lid.
 People with respiratory infection
symptoms and their close contact/aids
should wear surgical masks.
 Keep a distance of at least one metre
from the sick person.
pneumoniae infection  Seek medical advice immediately if
unwell.

 Adopt proper isolation for the sick.

 Use appropriate personal protective
equipment when necessary.
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2. Air-borne Pulmonary  Maintain good indoor ventilation
transmission

tuberculosis,  Seek medical advice immediately if

unwell.

Measles,

 Anyone with symptoms suggestive of air-

borne transmissible diseases should
not attend school.

Chickenpox

Read and learn the following in order to avoid and prevent encountering them.
Infectious Agent How it looks What it is Examples
Bacteria One-celled organisms Strep throat, tuberculosis,
that is found almost sinus infections
everywhere

Dangerous bacterium. It is
estimated that listeria causes
approximately
Virus Extremely small Cold,
organisms that consist Influenza
of a protein coat and
some genetic
materials.

Ebola virus
Fungus A fungus relies on
other living or dead
organisms to survive;
yeast, molds, and
mildews are included
in this group.
Athlete‟s foot,

Athlete‟s foot fungus, SEM

Fungus – Jock itch
Pictures & Images (Fungal infection – groin
.400 x 320 | 13.7 KB
health.allrefer.com
Ringworm

P a g e 21
Protozoan A single-celled Amoebic dysentry
organism; much more
complex than a
bacterium; protozoal
Amoeba proteus Protozoan, infections usually
pseudopods come from infected
water or food

Parasite An organism that lives

in a host organism;
draws nourishment
from a host; some may
be very large.
Tapeworm,
Parasite | Health Dictionary
426 x 399 | 38.5 KB
www.beltina.org

Malaria

 The saying, “Prevention is better than cure” become more significant to you
because of the importance of practicing preventive measures that diseases will
not infect you.
 It is also a challenge on your part to practice daily these preventive measures
you have learned. I know that you will share them to your family, friends, and
classmates especially how this module influenced you.
 A saying goes, “Learning without application is no learning at all.”

Activity 1- How Well Do You Know the Nature of Diseases?

Read very carefully each statement about the nature of communicable diseases. whether the
statement is true or false by putting a check (√) mark on the appropriate box.

Statement TRUE FALSE

1 Organisms like bacteria and viruses are all over the
environment.
2 Many of the most common diseases are caused by tiny
microorganisms called pathogens.
3 Communicable diseases come from one infected person to
another.
4 Stomach ache is one symptom that can be manifested by a
communicable disease.
5 Viral hepatitis is caused by a virus that affects the liver.
6 Rabies virus can enter only the brain cells while polio virus
attacks only the nervous system.
7 Malaria is a sickness caused by a carrier mosquito.
8 Pinworms hatch and live primarily in the intestines of a person.
9 Stagnant water is a reservoir for mosquitoes to multiply.
10 It is the nature of pathogens to invade its host through certain
points of entry to cause morbidity.

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Activity 2
Fill in the shapes with the correct answers. Answer the questions that follow.

1. What are the TWO KINDS OF TRANSMISSION?

2. What are the different MODES OF TRANSMISSION?

3. Give EXAMPLES of communicable diseases.

4. What are their PREVENTIVE MEASURES?

P a g e 23
 HEALTH 8 REFERENCES

TOPIC SOURCES
Angelina A. Mojica/ Rodelia Natividad V. Tangco
Honing Your Skills through MAPEH 9 (JO-ES Publishing House, Inc.)

IMAGE RESOURCES:

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