HEALTH EDUCATION

(GOOD HEALTH TRIANGLE, PERSONAL HYGIENE AND SANITATION DISEASES)

Good Health Triangle

Health is a state of optimal, physical, mental, and social well-being, where an individual ( and
all his body part) is able to perform his or her vital functions normally and properly. These are
illustrated in the figure and the discussion that follows.

Physical Health
“I can Take care of my Body”

Good
Health Triangle

Mental Health Social Health

“I think clearly” “I get along with others”

Physical health is very important because if you do not take good care of your health, all other
aspects of your body as well as its functions become affected. This starts either personal hygiene
which is fundamental to physical health. Hygiene or personal hygiene which is not confine to your
body but it also includes a sanitary place where you live in as well as an environment that allows you
to keep yourself in proper health. To keep yourself in good health, you must drink plenty of water
everyday, exercise daily, get enough rest and sleep, and most importantly, have a balanced diet.
These are some of the factors that contribute to good physical health.

Mental Health is defined as “a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an

individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet
the ordinary demands of everyday life.”

Environmental health as defined by the World Health Organization refers to the “theory and
practice of assessing and controlling factors in the environment that can potentially affect health.”
Characteristics of health that result from aggregate impact of air pollution, water pollution, noise
pollution, solid waste disposal, and housing occupational disease and injuries; and those diseases
related to unsanitary surrounding. This interrelationship between people and their environmental
promote human health and well-being and foster a safe and healthful environment.

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Personal Hygiene and Proper Sanitation

Personal Hygiene is defined as the practice of an individual to precautionary protection. The

consistent practice of basic hygiene contributes to the maintenance of healthy living. It greatly
contributes to good health in many ways – protection against germs that cause diseases which are
present in the surroundings. Hygiene promotes physical and mental well-being, uplifts everyone’s
morale, and ensures the building of a healthy nation.

At times, personal hygiene alone may not protect one’s body against the more common
diseases like malaria, colds, dysentery, and diarrhea. Thus, immunization is needed to protect an
individual from these diseases. The best prevention from diseases, however, is by staying fit and
keeping the immediate surrounding free of germs. More importantly is Proper Sanitation, and
effective measure that will create and maintain healthful environment conditions.

DIEASES

A disease is “an abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or
distress to the person affected.” Diseases may be caused by a variety of organisms, such as bacteria,
virus, fungi, parasites, and protozoans. These are discussed briefly as follows:

Bacteria are prokaryotes and are among the most abundant organism on earth. Although most
of them are harmless and beneficial, yet many can also cause diseases. These may multiply inside
the body and lead to diseases. Examples of diseases caused by bacteria are: tetanus (clostridium
tetani), impetigo (streptococcus pyogenes), whooping cough (bordetella pertussis), tuberculosis
(mycobacterium tuberculosis), gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrheae), syphilis (treponema pallidum),
typhoid fever (salmonella typhi), and cholera (vibrio cholera).

Viruses are not organisms but are particles of nucleic acids enveloped by a protein shell. They
need living host (i.e., animals, plants, bacteria) to enable them to live and reproduce. When a virus
comes into contact with a host cell, it can insert its genetic materials into its host, and takes over the
host’s function. Viruses can cause several diseases in humans. Examples of which are AIDS-HIV
virus (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), Measles (rubeola), german measles (rubella),
chickefox (varicella, zoster virus), mumps (mumps virus), hepatitis (hepa virus), warts (papilloma
virus) and rabies (rhaddovirus).

Fungi can also cause diseases among humans. These are saprophytic and parasitic
organisms that lack chlorophyll and include molds, rusts, mildews, smuts, mushrooms and yeasts.
Examples of diseases caused by fungi are: candidiasis (candida albicans) and ringworm
(trichophyton mentagrophytes).

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 Parasites are organisms that rely on living organisms for their nutrition and subsistence. They
live in living hosts. The parasites helminth infections include ascarisis (ascaris lumbricoides),
enterobiasis or pinworm (enterobius vermicularis) and schistosomisais (schistosomam japonicum).

Protozoans can cause diseases. Such as amebiasis (entamaoeba histolyca), malaria

(plasmodium falciparum), giardiasis (giardia lamblia).

Top 10 killer Diseases in the Philippines

1. Pneumonia
2. Diarrhea
3. Bronchitis/Bronchiolitis
4. Influenza
5. Hypertension
6. Tuberculosis / Respiratory Infections
7. Heart disease
8. Malaria
9. Chicken pox
10. Measles

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 (COMMON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, PREVENTIONS)
These are the common diseases and their preventive measure. Read and do
Activity in the succeeding page.

1. Sore Eyes (conjunctivitis, red eyes) – the surface of the eyeball under
sides of the eyelid becomes inflamed from exposure to dust ad germs. The
eyes are very itchy, mild pain can be felt, and yellow discharge (pus) comes
out from the eyes in the presence of bacterial infection. It is advisable to
consult the doctor.

2. Chronic Bronchitis (obstructive lung diseases, emphysema, smoker’s

cough) – Enlarged adenoids and tonsils of children may lead to repeated
attack of bronchitis. It is often the result of common cold. It is also caused by
cigarette smoking and air pollution. There is shortness of breath, swollen
ankles and legs, persistent cough with thick phlegm throughout the day and
night.
Better quit smoking and avoid living in a polluted environment.

3. Common Cold (blocked nose, runny nose, clogged nose) – it is a viral

infection of the upper air passages which causes the inflammation of the
mucus membrane lining of the nose and throat. It is easily spread via
coughing or sneezing and by direct contact. Other way of catching cold are
staying in very warm or cold room, lack of outdoor exercise, poor diet, and
overeating sugary and fatty foods. Bed rest is the best treatment.

A hot bath may help to relieve much of the congestion on the chest and
nasal membrane. Inhale steam to loosen nasal congestion and blow your
nose frequently.

4. Chickenpox (herpes zoster, shingles) – it is a mild, highly contagious

disease, which is affecting children during their early years but more severe in
adults. Infection is easily spread via airborne droplets that are exhaled or

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expelled causing outbreaks in places where there are close person to person
contacts. It begins with the low grade fever, severe itch, mild headache,
feeling weakness, runny nose, and small teardrop shaped blisters appears on
the skin. Take a complete rest until all blisters have dried up.

Do not burst the blisters, scratch or peel off the scabs to avoid
spreading the viral infection. Bathe skin daily with soap and warm water.
Consult a doctor.

5. Cholera (El tor) – It is an infection of the small intestines, characterizes by

severe diarrhea that causes a person to loose up half liter of water an hour. It
is cuased by germs taken in the body through food and drinks. It is spread by
improper ways of doing away with human waste. Rats, cockroaches, fly, and
ants are also carriers of cholera. You may have pains in the back, legs, and
arms. There is also frequent bowel movement in which the stool appears then
and whitish like rice water. There is vomiting and dehydration. This can be
prevented by immediately seeing the Emergency Department of the nearest
hospital.

6. Whooping cough (pertussis) – It is a serious contagious bacterial

infection of the bronchial tubes, larynx and lungs. It is transmitted by breathing
in air containing infected droplets. The attack may last up to six weeks. It may
result damage to the lungs and bronchial tube. Person may have a fever,
runny nose, and dry cough with sputum.
Stay away from the person who has whooping cough. Ensure that the
child takes the medication prescribed by the doctor. Immediately call the
doctor if there is blueness of the face and fever rises to 40 degrees Celsius.

7. Measles – It is highly contagious viral infection that usually occurs in

epidermis marked by fever and a rash similar to German measles. The
disease is common to childhood and if a person had been infected he/she
becomes immune for life. Chills and high fever which does not subside when
the rash appears, runny nose, cough, sore throat, swollen eyes, abdominal

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pain, and vomiting are symptoms of having measles.

Keep the patient in bed in clod room till one week after the rash has
disappeared, to protect your eyes from bright light. Consult the doctor if there
is breathing difficulty, persistent fever or cough, drowsiness, earache, or
convulsions.

8. Pneumonia – It is a respiratory disease caused by certain kind of bacteria

and inflammation of lungs. Chills and severe pain in the chest, high fever,
sweating, tiredness, cough and phlegm, dizziness and vomiting, headache,
and blue lips are symptoms of pneumonia.

Carefully treat colds, cough, and chilling. Avoid staying out in the cold
or damp places without enough protection. Immunization with pneumococcal
vaccine is needed.

9. Tuberculosis (TB) – It is highly contagious bacterial infection affecting the

lungs. It is transmitted via airborne droplets when there is a repeated
exposure. Fever, sweating at night, tiredness, poor appetite, chronic cough,
chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and weight loss are
symptoms tuberculosis.
Immunization at birth with BCG vaccine and booster dose may be
given at 12 years old. Immunization of adult who live in close contact with one
who is an active case of TB should be administered.

10. Asthma – This is preceded by warning signs such as increased shortness

of breath of wheezing, disturbed sleep caused by shortness of breath of
coughing , chest tightness or pain.
The best way to prevent asthma attacks is to identify and avoid indoor
and outdoor allergens and irritants. It often takes ongoing communication and
teamwork with a doctor. In addition, develop an action plan for taking
maintenance medications and managing an acute attack. Regularly measure
your peak airflow because your lungs function may decrease anytime. Stop

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any activity that may trigger an attack.

11. Dengue – It begins two days to three weeks after you’ve been exposed to
the virus. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, may cause vomiting and
diarrhea. All these create problems in a number of organs systems, especially
liver, lungs and sometimes kidneys.
For prevention, consider being vaccinated. Avoid unnecessary
activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitos are most active and use
mosquito nets when sleeping.

12. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) – It begins with fever (38 0C
or Higher) that’s usually occurs two to seven days after you’ve been infected.
Chills, muscles soreness, headache, and a general feeling of discomfort are
signs of this disease. It may progress to severe pneumonia leading to
insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood. In spite of a concerted global effort,
scientists have yet to find an effective treatment.

13. AH1N1 – Spreads through infected droplets from breathing passages/

Droplets are expelled by talking, spiting, coughing, and sneezing. The
droplets spread about 1 meter (3 meter) from infected person, either directly
to other people or indirectly through hands and other surfaces. If you touch
infected hands doorknobs, keyboards, telephones etc., you can also be
infected. An infected person is most likely to spread the virus when he or she
has fever and coughs. If possible hand shaking, kissing, and other
unnecessary social rituals must be avoided for health reason.

COVID-19
According to the Department of Health, Corona Viruses (CoV) are a
large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to
more severe diseases, such as MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome)
and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). Coronavirus are transmitted
between animals and people.
The 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic is a disease 2019 (COVID-19)

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caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-
2). The disease was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei, China in December
2019.
The following are information on COVID 19.
1. Disease: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19).
2. Virus strain: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV -
2)
3. First Case: December 1, 2019
4. Origin: Wuhan, Hubei, China
5. Symptoms: Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: Cough, shortness of
breath or difficulty of breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new
loss of taste or smell.
6. Incubation days: 1-14 days
7. Mode of transmission: Human-to-human transmission via respiratory
droplets.
8.Prevention tips: Avoiding close contact with the sick individuals; frequently
washing hands with soap and water; not touching the eyes, nose, or mouth
with unwashed hands; and practicing good respiratory hygiene.

How does COVID-19 Spread?

1. According to the Centers Diseases Control, the virus can be spread mainly
from person-to-person. This means it may spread between people who are in
close contact with one another within about 6 feet, or through respiratory
droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can
land in the mouths or noses of people who are nor showing symptoms.

2. The Centers Diseases Control also reports that it may be possible for
someone to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object with the virus on it,
and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes, but this is not
through to be the main way the virus spreads.

3. The best ways to prevent illness from COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed

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to the virus, as there currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

TO PREVENT ILLNESS AT SCHOOL, PRACTICE HANDWASHING

Proper handwashing is the major way to keep germs from spreading.

Many studies have shown that hanwashing education and proper
handwashing with soap reduce the transmission of illness. One study reported
reduced absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29-
57%.

Consideration for Wearing Masks

1. Centers Diseases Control recommends that people wear mask in public
settings and when around people who don’t live in your households,
especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

2. Mask may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the
virus to others.

3. Masks are most likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are
widely used by people in public settings.

4. Masks should NOT be worn by children under the age of 2 or anyone who
has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to
remove the mask without assistance.

How to wear a surgical mask

1. Clean your hands with soap.
2. Make sure there are no obvious tears or holes.
3. Determine which side of the mask is the front.
4. Hold the mask by the ear loops.
5. Pinch a stiff edge to the shape of your nose.
6. Change mask every 2-3 hours.

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