Communicable Diseases

1. Communicable Diseases Psalams 139:13-16

2. Communicable Disease • Is a disease that is spread from one living thing to another through the environment • An organism that causes a disease is called a pathogen • An infection occurs when a pathogen enters the body, multiplies, and damages body cells

3. Viruses • Genetic material surrounded by protein coat • Viruses need living cells to reproduce • Most common are the cold and the flu • Antibiotics do not work on viruses • You can only treat the symptoms, not the virus • Fever = aspirin • Runny nose = antihistamine

4. Bacteria • Single-celled organisms • Most are harmless, some are even essential for life • Some enter the body and produce a toxin the prevents the cell from doing its job • Most bacteria can be destroyed by antibiotics • However, through over use, your body or the bacteria itself can build up a tolerance to antibiotics

5. Other Pathogens • Fungi – molds, yeasts (athlete’s foot) • Protozoans – larger, more complex bacteria that can affect weakened immune system (malaria) • Rickettsias– like bacteria that are spread by insect bites (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)

6. How are they spread? • Direct contact – direct contact with infected person • Touching, kissing, coughing, sneezing • Indirect contact • Contaminated Objects • Vectors – ticks, mosquito • Water and Food – carless handling of food

7. Preventing Disease • Wash Hands! • Handle Food Properly • Eat balanced diet • Avoid sharing eating utensils and other personal items • Avoid ill people • Manage stress

8. Common Communicable Diseases • Respiratory Infections • Common Cold – viral infection that cannot be cured • Effects mucus membranes that that line the nose and throat • Influenza – viral infection that has various strains • Can get a flu shot, works like an immunization • Doesn’t guarantee you will not get the flu • Can be deadly, current worries about new strands • May develop into pneumonia • Pneumonia – can be viral or bacterial • In weakened state, bacteria spreads to lungs and causes difficulty in breathing

9. Step Throat – bacterial infection marked by a sore throat • If left untreated, it can develop into more serious complications • Tuberculosis – bacterial disease the attacks the lungs • Usually only affects those with weakened immune system

10. Hepatitis • A • Virus spread through contact with feces • Nausea, fever, vomiting, fatigue, abdominal pain • B • Virus in bodily fluids • Mostly spread through sexual contact • Causes severe liver damage • C • Blood-borne virus • Causes severe liver damage

11. HIV/AIDS • HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus – virus that attacks the immune system • Attacks and destroys cells over lengthy times (years) • Having HIV does not mean you have AIDs • Transmitted through body fluids, doesn’t survive well outside of the body • Done most commonly through: blood, semen, and breast milk • Can virtually eliminate risk by abstaining from sexual activity • Person can go years with out showing symptoms of the disease

12. AIDs • Acquired immune deficiency syndrome • During the latter stages of HIV, more serious symptoms occur: AIDs • Severely diminished immune system, appearance of opportunistic infections/illnesses • People don’t die from HIV/AIDs, their system becomes so weak, that another virus or bacteria takes their life

13. Treatment for HIV/AIDs • Medical science has made great advancements in treating the symptoms of AIDs, prolonging life for long periods of time (in some cases for decades) • There currently is no cure for someone who has acquired HIV/AIDs