Preventing the Spread of Disease

1. Preventing the Spread of Disease In this lesson, you will Learn About… • How to protect yourself from pathogens. • How to avoid spreading pathogens to others when you are sick. • Habits that can help you stay healthy.

2. Preventing the Spread of Disease The Vocabularyterm in this lesson is: • Hygiene.

3. Stop Pathogens from Spreading Although you cannot see the pathogens that surround you, you can defend yourself against them. Good personal hygiene and other healthful habits can help you stay well. Keeping your environment clean is also an important part of preventing the spread of pathogens.

4. Protect Yourself Avoid taking risks with your health. Here are some guidelines to protect yourself: • Avoid close contact with people who are ill, especially during the contagious period of a disease. • Do not share eating utensils, dishes, glasses, bottles, or cans. • Wash your hands often, especially when you have been around someone with a contagious disease.

5. Handwashing Frequent handwashing will help keep pathogens from entering your body. How to Wash First, wet your hands under warm running water and apply soap. Then, rub your hands together vigorously, and scrub all surfaces for at least 15 seconds. Finally, rinse well and dry your hands, using a clean or disposable towel. When to Wash Always wash your hands before handling or eating food. What to Use Wash with hot, soapy water. Consider buying liquid soap.

6. Protect Others To avoid spreading of pathogens to others, do the following: • If you are ill, stay home from school during the contagious period of the disease, and avoid close contact with other people. Wash your hands frequently. • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and turn your head away from others. Use tissues and dispose of them properly.

7. Protect Others (cont’d.) Get medical treatment if you need it. Delaying a visit to the doctor may allow your condition to worsen while increasing the chances that you will spread pathogens to others. When you take a prescribed medication, follow the directions and your physician’s orders carefully. Take the entire cycle of prescribed medication. Do not stop taking it just because you feel better. Encourage other people to follow wise health practices.

8. Develop a Healthy Lifestyle These healthful habits are important weapons in the fight against pathogens: • Eating a balanced diet. • Participating in regular physical activity. • Getting enough rest. • Bathing or showering daily. • Avoiding harmful behaviors such as using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.

9. Develop a Healthy Lifestyle (cont’d.) You can do even more to help your body stay healthy: • When you are sick, avoid strenuous activity. • Be sure that you are immunized against diseases for which a vaccine exists. • Learn to manage stress. • Get regular health screenings.

10. Reviewing Terms and Facts • Define the term hygiene. Hygiene means cleanliness.

11. Reviewing Terms and Facts • List three ways to protect yourself against communicable diseases. • Avoid close contact with people who are ill. • Do not share eating utensils, dishes, glasses, bottles, or cans. • Wash your hands often.

12. Thinking Critically • Why do you think it is important to wash your hands after playing with a pet?

13. Chapter Review

14. Reviewing Terms and Facts • _____ are organisms that are so small that they can be seen only through a microscope. Germs

15. Reviewing Terms and Facts • The ______________ is a secondary circulatory system that helps the body fight pathogens and maintain its fluid balance. lymphatic system

16. Reviewing Terms and Facts • Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes is a sign of • influenza. • mononucleosis. • hepatitis. • strep throat.

17. Reviewing Terms and Facts • Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes is a sign of • influenza. • mononucleosis. • hepatitis. • strep throat.

18. Reviewing Terms and Facts • Chlamydia is an STD that may affect the reproductive organs, urethra, and anus. • True • False

19. Reviewing Terms and Facts • Chlamydia is an STD that may affect the reproductive organs, urethra, and anus. • True • False

20. Reviewing Terms and Facts • It is important to avoid contact with others during the contagious period of a disease. • True • False

21. Reviewing Terms and Facts • It is important to avoid contact with others during the contagious period of a disease. • True • False

22. Thinking Critically • How can understanding the ways in which pathogens are spread help people stay healthy?

23. Thinking Critically • Explain how lymph, the lymph nodes, and lymphocyte work within the lymphatic system to fight against specific pathogens.

24. Thinking Critically • The following diseases are caused by pathogens: a cold, the flu, mononucleosis, and TB. What are the risks for contracting each disease?

25. Thinking Critically • Why do you think people often postpone seeing a doctor if they think that they might have an STD?

26. Thinking Critically • A friend tells you that she’s planning to go to school even though she has the flu. What would you tell her?

27. Vocabulary Review Hygiene means cleanliness.