Infections & Diseases

1. Infections & Diseases An overview of common infections and diseases

2. Athlete’s Foot • An infection of the foot caused by fungi. • We all the fungi that can cause athlete's foot on our bodies. They feed on dead skin cells and are usually harmless. • The fungi love warm, moist places and are primarily a problem for people who wear tight-fitting trainers or don't dry their feet properly. • The condition is communicable. It can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact and indirectly through towels, shoes, floors, etc. • Symptoms include: A red itchy rash in the spaces between the toes and possibly small pustules. Often a small degree of scaling. • The infection can spread to the rest of the foot and other parts of the body.

3. Ring Worm • It is a communicable condition. • It is called ringworm because the infection often appears as a round shape or ring. The general medical name for these infections is 'tinea'. • The infection often appears red or silvery, with scales, and is itchy. The edge is red and may be raised. • The ring spreads outwards and the centre may heal and go back to a normal skin colour.

4. Fungal Nail Infection • Causes of infections in toenails include wearing trainers or having hot, sweaty feet a lot of the time. • Fungi grow easily in warm damp environments. • The skin at the base of your nail can become damaged, and therefore more likely to become infected. • The nail often becomes thickened and discoloured. The nail can turn white, black, yellow or green in colour. • The nail can sometimes become crumbly, with pieces of nail breaking off, or even coming away from the toe or finger completely.

5. Influenza – The Flu • A viral disease which lasts from 3-5 days and can be followed by fatigue for 2-3weeks • Can cause: aching muscles and joints, headaches, coughing, fever, chills, runny nose, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea • It can become a much more severe illness, leading to pneumonia, nerve and brain damage and even death but such complications are rare. • It is possible to get vaccinated against influenza, which is especially advisable for the elderly and people with heart and lung diseases • Symptoms can be relieved by not smoking or drinking alcohol. Drinking lots of fluids can help and plenty of bed rest • A communicable condition which infects the nose, throat and lungs. Can cause an epidemic which lasts up to 6 weeks.

6. emphysema • A long-term progressive disease of the lungs which causes shortness of breath • Lung tissue loses it’s elasticity causing the air sacs to lose their shape • Small air ways to the lungs collapse during forced exhalation • Sufferers cannot obtain sufficient oxygen nor can they rid the blood of carbon dioxide • Primarily caused by long-term exposure to air pollution or smoking

7. Chronic Heart Disease (CHD) • The UK’s biggest killer!!! Results in approxim. 94,000 deaths per year • 1 in 5 men and 1 in 7 women die of CHD • The blood supply to the heart is stopped by fatty deposits in arteries • The fatty deposits are caller ATHEROMA • As the fatty deposits build up, the blood flow is slowed causing chest pain known as angina • If the coronary artery becomes blocked it can lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction) • Lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of CHD

8. Cancer • Cells in the body begin to grow and reproduce uncontrollable way • Often no specific symptoms are evident • The cells invade and destroy healthy tissue and organs • Most common in Uk are cancer of the: breast, prostate, lung, bowel and bladder. • Treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy • More information on: www.nhs.co.uk Conditions, Cancer. THYROID CANCER

9. Vibrio cholerae • Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacterium Vibriocholerae. • Transmission to humans is by water or food.

10. Spread of cholera