Public Health Awareness Week: Communicable Diseases

A communicable disease is referred to as a highly transmissible disease. A communicable disease can easily be spread from one person to another and pathogens like viruses, bacteria and fungi are the root cause of these diseases. After getting infected by the pathogen, a person can develop a communicable disease and this can happen due to:

• Coming in direct contact with a person that is infected by the pathogen
• Getting in contact with infectious fluids like blood, mucus, or saliva
• Breathing the infectious droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected perso
• Getting a bite from an animal or insect that is infected by the pathogen
• Consuming contaminated water or foods

The replica process in the body starts as soon as the person gets infected by the pathogen and it will bring some distressing symptoms. Diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and viral hepatitis falls under the category of communicable diseases and are causing more than 4 million deaths every year.

Various types of pathogens cause infection in the body. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are the 4 different types of organisms that cause infection in the body. The signs and symptoms vary as per the organism that has entered your bod but here are some general symptoms that a major number of people experience:

General Signs and Symptoms of Communicable Diseases involve

• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Coughing

Here is when to seek a doctor’s advice

• If you are bitten by an animal
• Breathing Problems
• Suffering from coughing for more than a week
• Suffering from severe headache and fever
• Notice a rash or swelling on your body
• Vision problems

A lot of infectious diseases are not very complicated and can easily be treated. But some infections like pneumonia, HIV/AIDS and meningitis can lead to various health complications and can become life-threatening.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that affects the immune system and makes the body weak and fragile to catch other infections and diseases. It spreads by getting in touch with the body fluids of the infected person and most commonly due to unprotected sex.

This is one of the most serious communicable diseases as there is no effective cure for this condition, however, it can be treated with the proper medications.

Prevention is better than cure

Reducing the risk of getting communicable diseases requires some healthy habits. Here is how you can decrease the risk:

• Keep a tab on your hygiene
• Wash hand thoroughly and regularly
• Use disinfectants to clean the surfaces of your, especially doorknobs and food areas
• Maintain good hygiene while preparing food
• Do not eat spoiled food
• Do not touch wild animals
• Make sure to get available vaccinations

Footnote

Always take care of your hygiene to decrease the risk of communicable diseases and if you are suffering from the above-written symptoms then it is extremely vital to consult a doctor to avoid any further complications.