MOST COMMON

COMMUNICABL
E DISEASES AND
ITS
PREVENTION
COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES
• Diseases that are spread from
one person to the other.
• Diseases that are “catching”
• Diseases that are caused by
germs or pathogens.
Examples of pathogens include: viruses, bacteria,
parasitic worms and fungi.
Modes of Transmission
• Direct Contact: Exposure to infected body
fluids such as blood or saliva.

• Vectors/Reservoirs: Germs are spread by an

animal or insect, usually through a bite.
• Food and Water: Food and water can become
contaminated with germs and people can get sick when
they eat or drink them.

• Airborne: Germs are spread through the air, for example

when someone coughs or sneezes.

• Indirect contact: Pathogens remain on surfaces that

were in contact with an infected person.
 Examples :
 Acute Respiratory Infections
 Pneumonia
 Influenza
 Dengue
 HIV and AIDS
 Poliomyelitis
 Malaria
 Bronchitis
 Tuberculosis
 Acute Water Diarrhea
 Rabies
 Sexually transmitted diseases
 Acute Respiratory Infections
• Acute respiratory infection is a serious infection that
prevents normal breathing function.
• It usually begins as a viral infection in the nose,
trachea (windpipe), or lungs.
• If the infection is not treated, it can spread to the entire
respiratory system.
• Acute respiratory infection prevents the body from
getting oxygen and can result in death.
Person suffering from this condition needs
medical assistance immediately.
Also, acute respiratory infections are
infectious, which means they can spread from
one person to another.
 SYMPTOMS:
The early symptoms of acute respiratory infection usually
appear in the nose and upper lungs. Other symptoms include:
congestion, either in the nasal sinuses or lungs
runny nose
cough
sore throat
body aches
fatigue
If the disease advances, there
may be high fever and chills.
Other serious symptoms are:
difficulty breathing
dizziness
low blood oxygen level
loss of consciousness
 CAUSES:
Although some causes of the condition are unknown, a
few have been identified. They are as follows.
Adenoviruses
Adenoviruses are a class of microorganisms that can
cause acute respiratory infection. Adenoviruses consist
of more than 50 different types of viruses known to
cause the common cold, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Pneumococcus
Pneumococcus is a type of bacterium that causes
meningitis. However, it can also trigger certain
respiratory illnesses like pneumonia.
Rhinoviruses
Rhinoviruses are the source of the common cold, which
in most cases is uncomplicated. However, in the very
young, elderly, and people with a weak immune
system, a cold can advance to acute respiratory
infection.
 PREVENTIO
N: of an acute respiratory infection are not treatable.
Most causes
Therefore, prevention is the best method to ward off harmful
respiratory infections. Practice good hygiene by doing the
following:
 Wash hands frequently, especially after having been in a public
place.
 Always sneeze into one's arm of the shirt or in a tissue. Although
this may not ease one's symptoms, it will prevent the spreading of
infectious diseases.
 Avoid touching one's face, especially eyes and mouth, to prevent
introducing germs into one's system.
 PNEUMONIA
• A lung infection that can range from mild to so
severe that you have to go to the hospital.
• It happens when an infection causes the air sacs in
your lungs (your doctor will call them alveoli) to fill
with fluid or pus.
• That can make it hard for you to breathe in enough
oxygen to reach your bloodstream.
• Anyone can get this lung infection.
• But infants younger than age 2 and people
over age 65 are at higher risk.
• That’s because their immune systems
might not be strong enough to fight it.
• Causes include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. If
your pneumonia results from bacteria or a
virus, you can spread it to someone else.
• Lifestyle habits, like smoking cigarettes and
drinking too much alcohol, can also raise your
chances of getting pneumonia.
 SYMPTOMS:
The symptoms can vary depending on what’s causing pneumonia,
it could be your age, and your overall health. They usually develop
over several days.
Common pneumonia symptoms include:
 Chest pain when you breathe or cough
 Cough that produces phlegm or mucus
 Fatigue and loss of appetite
 Fever, sweating, and chills
 Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Shortness of breath
Along with these symptoms, older adults and
people with weak immune systems might be
confused or have changes in mental awareness, or
they might have a lower-than-normal body
temperature.
Newborns and infants may not show any signs of
infection. Or they might vomit, have a fever and a
cough, and seem restless or tired.
 CAUSES:
Bacteria, viruses, or fungi can lead to pneumonia.
Top causes include:
Flu viruses
Cold viruses
RSV virus (the top cause of pneumonia in babies age 1
or younger)
Bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycoplasma
pneumoniae
Some people who are in the hospital get “ventilator-
associated pneumonia” if they got the infection while using a
ventilator, a machine that helps you breathe.
If you get pneumonia while you are in a hospital and aren’t
on a ventilator, that’s called “hospital-acquired” pneumonia.
But most people get “community-acquired pneumonia,”
which means they didn’t get it in a hospital.
 PREVENTION:
There are two different vaccines to prevent
pneumococcal disease, the most common bacterial
cause of pneumonia.
These cover a wide variety of pneumococcal infections
and are recommended for both children and adults,
depending on their health conditions.
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, or Prevnar
pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or Pneumovax
Keeping to a vaccination schedule can help prevent
infection.
 Prevnar (PCV13)
normally included as part of an infant's
routine immunizations.
It is recommended for children under 2
years, adults over 65 years, and those
between the ages of 2 and 64 years with
certain medical conditions.
 Pneumovax (PPSV23)
 recommended for children and adults who are at increased risk of
developing pneumococcal infections.
This includes:
 adults aged 65 years or older
 people with diabetes
 those with chronic heart, lung, or kidney disease
 people who consume large amounts of alcohol or who smoke
 those without a spleen
 Those aged between 2 and 64 yearsTrusted Source with certain other
medical conditions may be advised to have this vaccine
The vaccine may not completely protect older adults from pneumonia,
but it can significantly reduce the risk of developing pneumonia and
other infections caused by S. pneumoniae), including blood and brain
infections.
Along with vaccinations, physicians recommend:
regular hand washing
covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
refraining from smoking
eating healthfully
exercising 5 days a week
stayingaway from the sputum or cough particles of others with
pneumonia
Most people recover from pneumonia
in 1 to 3 weeks. Those at risk of severe
symptoms should ensure they keep up
their vaccinations.
 BRONCHITIS
when your bronchial tubes, which
carry air to your lungs, get inflamed
and swollen. You end up with a
nagging cough and mucus.
There are two types:
Acute bronchitis.
This is more common. Symptoms
last for a few weeks, but it doesn’t
usually cause problems past that.
Chronic bronchitis.
This one is more
serious. It keeps coming
back or doesn’t go
away.
 SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms of both acute and chronic bronchitis include
breathing problems, such as:
Chest congestion, when your chest feels full or clogged
A cough that may bring up mucus that’s clear, white,
yellow, or green
Shortness of breath
A wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe
 Symptoms of acute bronchitis also
may include:
Body aches and chills
Feeling “wiped out”
Low fever
Runny, stuffy nose
Sore throat
With chronic bronchitis, your cough
lasts for at least 3 months and comes
back at least 2 years in a row.
 CAUSES:
Most often, the same viruses that give you a cold
or the flu cause acute bronchitis. But sometimes,
bacteria bring it on.
In both of these cases, as your body fights the
germs, your bronchial tubes swell and make more
mucus. That means you have smaller openings for
air to flow through, which can make it harder to
breathe.
Chronic bronchitis causes include:

Breathing in air pollution and other

things that bother your lungs, like
chemical fumes or dust, over time
Smoking or breathing in secondhand
smoke for a long time
 PREVENTION:
To lower your chances of getting acute bronchitis or a flare-up
of chronic bronchitis:
Stay away from cigarette smoke.
Get the flu vaccine since you can get bronchitis from the
flu virus.
Make sure your pertussis vaccine is up to date.
Wash your hands often.
Wear a mask when you’re around things that bother your
lungs, such as paint fumes.
 INFLUENZA
• Also called – Flu
• Acute & highly infectious disease
of respiratory tract.
• Occur people of all ages.
• Incubation Period :
About 1–2 days(24-48 Hrs.)
 Causative Organism
Influenza Virus (A,B,C)
Mode of Transmission

Influenza is mainly spread by,

1. Droplet infection
2. Freshly contaminated formites.
3. Direct contact
 SIGNS and SYMPTOMS
1. Fever up to 102 C
0

2. Malaise, Chills, headache,

backache,
3. Loss of appetite
4. Face is flushed.
5. If ignored other severe effect
 Prevention & Control
1. By administering polyvalent influenza virus
vaccine.
2. Isolation of suspected case
3. Spitting in public places should be avoided.
4. People must be educated about healthy
habits.
 Treatment

1. Bed rest until fever has subsided.

2. Analgesics (Paracetamol etc)
3. Dry cough suppressant (Noscapine
etc).
4. Anti viral may be used.
 Tuberculosis
• “Tuberculosis is defined as an infectious disease caused by a
bacterium Mycobacterium T.B. ; that most commonly affects
the lungs.”
• Symptoms: Slight fever, night sweats, weight loss
fatigue.
• Modes of transmission: tuberculosis is an airborne disease
able to be passed from one person to another.
 Prevention
• Your doctor may prescribe a medicine called
isoniazid to prevent the tuberculosis infection
from developing into the active disease and making you
feel sick.
• If you contract TB of the abdominal or of the extra-
pulmonary you may have the choice of a mainstay
therapy that takes a course of 9-12 months in order to
complete.
• Surgery is generally reserved for patients with
obstruction of vital organs.
 DENGUE

OVERVIEW:
There is no specific treatment for dengue, but access to
proper medical care reduces mortality rates.
The best way to prevent dengue is to avoid mosquito
bites.​
found in tropical and sub-tropical
climates, spreading rapidly in urban poor
areas, suburbs and rural areas.
Other names of the disease:
Dengue, dandy fever, bouquet fever,
break bone fever and Aden fever.
 CAUSES:
There are four distinct serotypes of the dengue virus
(DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4).
The transfer of one of them via the female mosquito
(Aedes aegypti) is the main cause of dengue.
In rare cases, the virus can be spread via the white-
striped body Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus).
 SYMPTOMS:
Dengue causes flu-like symptoms and infection is suspected with high
fever (above 40°C) and at least two of the following symptoms:
 ​Severe headache.
 Pain behind the eyes.
 Muscle and joint pain.
 Nausea.
 Vomiting.
 Rash.
 Symptoms usually last for 2-7 days
 TREATMENT:
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever,
so prevention is the most important step to be
followed, and when you develop the disease the
followings are recommended:
​Get some rest.
Fluid intake.
Take painkillers.
Avoid blood thinners such aspirin.
Avoid mosquito bites, to prevent the
spread of the disease.
For severe dengue, medical care and
replacement of lost fluids will help to
prevent progression of the disease and
maintain the patient's life.
 PREVENTION:
In some countries, vaccination is approved for those
aged 9 to 45 who live in areas with a high incidence of
dengue fever.
The best way of prevention is to avoid the mosquito
bites through:
Covering, emptying and cleaning all domestic water
tanks and basins weekly, including the water of
vases.
 Disposalof mosquito breeding places such as water
basins whether inside or outside the home.
Applying insect repellent cream inside and outside
the house.
Wearing long-sleeved clothing.
Ensuring that window screens have no holes that
allow insects to enter.
Applying insecticides during outbreaks.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
INFECTIONS (STIs)
 Infections you can get by having sex with someone who has an
infection
 These infections are usually passed from person to person through
vaginal intercourse
 They can be passed through anal sex, oral sex, or skin-to-skin contact
 Can be caused by viruses include HEPATITIS B, HERPES, HIV, and
the HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS(HPV),
 Caused by bacteria include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis
 SYMPTOMS:
The most common symptoms of STIs include:
 Itching around the vagina and/or discharge from the vagina
for women.
 Discharge from the penis for men.
 Pain during sex or when urinating.
 Pain in the pelvic area.
 Sore throats in people who have oral sex.
 Pain in or around the anus for people who have anal sex.
 Chancre sores (painless red sores) on the genital area, anus, tongue,
and/or throat.
 A scaly rash on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet.
 Dark urine, loose, light-colored stools, and yellow eyes and skin.
 Small blisters that turn into scabs on the genital area.
 Swollen glands, fever, and body aches.
 Unusual infections, unexplained fatigue, night sweats, and weight
loss.
 Soft, flesh-colored warts around the genital area.
 PREVENTION
Counselling and behavioural approaches
-offer primarily prevention against STIs (including HIV), as well as
against unintended pregnancies. These include:
o Comprehensive sexually education, STI and HIV pre-and post-test
counselling;
o Safer sex/risk-reduction counselling, condom promotion;
o STI interventions targeted to key populations, such as sex workers,
men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs; and
o STI prevention education and counselling tailored to the needs of
adolescents.
Barrier methods
-condoms offer one of the most effective
methods of protection against STIs,
including HIV
-Female condoms are effective and safe, but
are not used widely by national
programmes as male condoms.
 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• STDs are diseases and infections which are capable
of being spread from person to person through:
– sexual intercourse
– oral-genital contact or in non-sexual ways.
– IV drug
• Some STD’s are:
 Chlamydia.
 Gonorrhea.
 Syphilis.
 Candidiasis – Yeast Fungus.
• Symptoms:
1.Sores.
2.Blood in urine.
3.Burning sensation when urinating.
4.Rashes.
5.Itching.
6.Warts.
7.Unusual discharge.
• Modes of transmission:
 sexual intercourse
 oral-genital contact or in non-sexual ways.
 IV drug
 Prevention:
• Abstinence.
• Know your partner
• Limit your partners.
• Visit your doctor.
• Always look.
• Keep clean.
 HIV
A virus that damages the immune system.
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) is
the virus that causes AIDS
The immune system helps the body fight off
infections
HIV Is Transmitted through bodily fluids
that include:
Blood
Semen
Vaginal and rectal fluids
Breast milk
The virus doesn’t spread in air or water, or
through casual contact.
HIV is a lifelong condition and currently there is
no cure, although many scientists are working to
find one.
However, with medical care, including treatment
called antiretroviral therapy, it’s possible to
manage HIV and live with the virus for many
years.
Without treatment, a person with HIV is likely to
develop a serious condition called AIDS.
At that point, the immune system is too weak to
fight off other diseases and infections.
Untreated, life expectancy with AIDS is about
three years.
It’s estimated that 1.1 million Americans
are currently living with HIV.
Of those people, 1 in 5 don’t know they
have virus.
HIV can cause changes throughout the
body.
 AIDS
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome”
• Disease limits the body’s ability to fight infection
due to markedly reduced helper T cells.
• Patients have a very weak immune system
(defense mechanism)
Symptoms: Fever,Headache, neuropathy, Sores,
Rashes, Nausea, Vomitting.
Mode of Transmission: Sharing Needles,
Unsterilized blades, Unprotected Intercourse,
Mother to Baby.
 Prevention:
Some ways to protect yourself:
Monogamous Relationship.
Protected Sex.
Sterile needles.
New shaving/cutting blades. Anti-
retroviral drugs are used-
AZT (Zidovudine).
Viramune (Nevirapine).
Norvir (Ritonavir).
End of Presentation
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