Health is a state of complete physical, mental & social
well-being. Health is affected by genetic disorders, Infections, change in life
style (food, water, rest, exercise, habits etc).
Pathogens: Disease
(Infectious) causing organisms.
Parasites are pathogens as they harm the host by living in or on them.
COMMON
INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN MAN
1. BACTERIAL DISEASES
a. Typhoid: Pathogen is Salmonella typhi.
· Mode of transmission: It enters the
small intestine through food and water and migrates to other organs through
blood.
· Symptoms: Sustained high
fever (39o-40o C), weakness, stomach pain, constipation,
headache & loss of appetite. Intestinal perforation and death may occur.
Widal test is used for confirmation of the disease.
b. Pneumonia: Pathogen is Streptococcus pneumonia &
Haemophilus influenza.
· Mode of transmission: Inhaling the
droplets/aerosols released by an infected person. Sharing glasses and utensils
with an infected person.
· Symptoms: Infects lung
alveoli. The alveoli get filled with fluid leading to respiratory problems.
Fever, chills, cough, headache. Severe
cases: Lips and finger nails turn gray to bluish colour.
2. VIRAL DISEASES
a. Common cold: Pathogen is
Rhinoviruses.
· Mode of transmission: Inhaling
droplets resulting from cough or sneezes. Through contaminated objects.
· Symptoms: Infects nose
& respiratory passage. Nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat,
hoarseness, cough, headache, tiredness etc. Last for 3-7 days.
3. PROTOZOAN DISEASES
a. Malaria: Pathogen is
Plasmodium sp. (P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. falciparum).
· Mode of transmission: Anopheles
mosquito biting.
· Symptoms: Haemozoin causes
chill and high fever recurring every 3-4 days.
Life cycle of Plasmodium
b. Amoebiasis (Amoebic dysentery): Pathogen is
Entamoeba histolytica.
·
Mode of transmission: Houseflies
(mechanical carriers) transmit parasites from faeces to food & water.
· Symptoms: Constipation,
abdominal pain and cramps, stools with excess mucous and blood clots.
4. HELMINTH DISEASES
a. Ascariasis: Pathogen is
Ascaris (Intestinal parasite).
·
Mode of transmission: Soil, water,
vegetables, fruits etc. contaminated with faeces containing eggs of parasites.
· Symptoms: Internal
bleeding, muscular pain, fever, anaemia and blockage of intestinal passage.
b. Filariasis (Elephantiasis): Pathogen is
Filarial worms or Wuchereria (W. bancrofti & W. malayi).
·
Mode of transmission: Bite of female Culex
mosquito.
·
Symptoms: Filarial worms live
in lymphatic vessels (usually of lower limbs). It causes chronic inflammation
of the organs in which they live for many years. Limbs and genital organs may
be deformed.
5. FUNGAL DISEASES
a.
Ring worms: Pathogens are Microsporum, Trichophyton &
Epidermophyton. They are seen in
groin, b/w toes etc.
·
Mode of transmission: From soil or
by using towels, cloths, comb etc. Heat and moisture help fungi to grow.
·
Symptoms: Appearance of dry,
scaly lesions on various body parts such as skin nails and scalp. Intense
itching.
Other infectious diseases
Bacterial Diseases
Disease
|
Pathogen
|
Transmission
|
Dysentery
|
Shigella
|
Contact,
Contaminated food and water
|
Plague
|
Pasteurella
pestis
|
Rat
fleas
|
Diphtheria
|
Corynebacterium
diphtheriae
|
Contaminated
food, Direct contact
|
Cholera
|
Vibrio
cholerae
|
Food
& water contam-inated with faeces
|
Tuberculosis
|
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
|
Droplets
from patient / carrier
|
Tetanus
|
Clostridium
tetani
|
Contamination
of wound by bacteria
|
Whooping
cough
|
Bordetella
pertussis
|
Contact,
Droplets
|
Leprosy
|
Mycobacterium
leprae
|
Direct
contact
|
Anthrax
|
Bacillus
anthrasis
|
Contact
with cattle
|
Weil’s
disease
|
Leptospira
|
Contact
with rodents, dogs etc.
|
Viral Diseases
Disease
|
Pathogen
|
Transmission
|
Rabies
|
Rabies
virus
|
Rabid
dogs etc
|
Dengue
|
Dengue
virus
|
Aedes mosquito
|
Influenza
|
Influenza
virus
|
Coughing
& sneezing
|
Measles
|
Rubeola
virus
|
Droplets
|
German
measles
|
Rubella
virus
|
Close
contact
|
Mumps
|
Mumps
virus
|
Air
borne droplets
|
Chicken
pox
|
Varicella
zoster
|
Air
borne droplets
|
Small
pox
|
Variola
virus
|
Direct
contact
|
Polio
|
Polio
virus
|
Faeces
& Air
|
Chikungunya
|
Chikungunya
(CHIK) Virus
|
Aedes mosquito
|
Avian
flu
|
H5N1
virus
|
Contact with
infected poultry. Air borne spread
|
H1N1(Swine
flu)
|
H1N1
virus
|
Contact
with pigs, cough & sneeze of infected person.
|
PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASES
1. Personal hygiene
Keep the body clean. Use clean drinking water, food etc.
2. Public hygiene
a. Proper disposal of wastes and excreta.
b. Periodic cleaning and disinfection of water reservoirs, pools, cesspools and tanks.
c. Avoid contact with infected persons or their belongings (to control air-borne diseases).
d. Standard practices of hygiene in public catering.
e. Control and eliminate the vectors (e.g. mosquitoes) and their breeding places.
- Avoid stagnation of water.
- Regular cleaning of household coolers.
- Use of mosquito nets.
- Introduce larvivorous fishes like Gambusia in ponds.
- Spraying insecticides in ditches, drainage and swamps.
- Doors and windows should be provided with wire mesh to prevent entry of mosquitoes.
These precautions can avoid vector borne diseases like Malaria, Filariasis, Dengue & Chikun gunya.
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