Class 8
Diseases
Note on Diseases
Diseases
Communicable diseases, also known as infectious or transmissible diseases, are illnesses that spread from one person to another, or from an animal to a person. These diseases are caused by pathogens, which include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
Communicable Diseases
| Disease | Causative Agent | Symptoms | Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Influenza | Virus | Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches | Vaccination, hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes |
| Measles | Virus | Fever, rash, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes | Vaccination |
| Malaria | Protozoan | Fever, chills, sweating, headache, muscle aches | Mosquito nets, antimalarial drugs, mosquito control |
| Dengue | Virus | Fever, headache, rash, muscle and joint pains | Mosquito control |
| Chikungunya | Virus | Fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, rash | Mosquito control |
| HIV | Virus | Weakened immune system, leading to opportunistic infections | Condoms, avoiding infected blood, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) |
Vector
Meaning: An organism that transmits a disease from one animal or plant to another. Many vectors are bloodsucking insects that ingest disease-producing microorganisms from an infected host and then transmit them to a new host.
Common Vectors and the Diseases They Carry:
- Mosquitoes: Malaria, Dengue fever, West Nile virus, Zika virus.
- Ticks: Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Fleas: Plague.
- Flies: Can mechanically transmit diseases like pink eye and salmonellosis.
Preventing Diseases
A multi-faceted approach is essential for preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases.
- Personal Hygiene:
- Frequent Handwashing: Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is crucial.
- Covering Coughs and Sneezes: Use a tissue or your elbow to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets.
- Safe Food Handling: Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces when preparing food. Cook foods to their proper temperatures and refrigerate them promptly.
- Avoiding Sharing Personal Items: Do not share items like toothbrushes, razors, or towels.
- Staying Home When Sick: This helps prevent the spread of illness to others.
- Vector Control:
- Habitat and Environmental Control: Eliminating breeding grounds for vectors, such as stagnant water.
- Reducing Contact: Using window screens, bed nets, and wearing protective clothing.
- Chemical Control: The use of insecticides, larvicides, and personal repellents.
- Biological Control: Introducing natural predators, such as fish that consume mosquito larvae.
- Vaccination: The administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop protection from a disease.
- Immunization: The process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Widespread vaccination programs have led to the eradication or significant reduction of diseases like smallpox, polio, and measles.
Harmful Effects
- Consuming Tobacco: Increased risk of cancer (especially lung cancer), heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Drinking Alcohol: Increased risk of liver disease, cancer, heart disease, and addiction.
- Taking Drugs: Increased risk of addiction, overdose, death, and various health problems depending on the drug.
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/Class-8/5_1_Diseases.mdx