Communicable Diseases

Introduction to Healthcare

AHS 104

Communicable Disease

A disease that can be transmitted directly or indirectly from one person to another. Incubation Period: Time between the invasion by the

pathogen and the onset of symptoms. Prodromal Period: Refers to the initial stage of a

disease: interval between earliest symptoms & appearance of rash or fever.

Frequently children/people are contagious during this period. Symptoms are not specific.

Individual may attend work/school and spread disease.

Communicable Disease

Fomite- Any material that absorbs and transmits infection.

Chain of Infection-Refers to way in which organism is spread and infects individuals. Preventing spread of infection depends on

breaking the chain. Careful hand washing is essential to the

containment of infection.

Factors contributing to virulence of infectious diseaseFactors that make one susceptible to acquiring

a disease Age Sex Genetic Makeup Nutritional Status Physical/Emotional Health Immune System Underlying Conditions

Immunity

Natural or acquired resistance to infection

Race:Some have greater immunity to certain diseases.

Immunity varies from person to person.

If a person is immune to one disease they are not necessarily immune to another.

Immunity

Acquired Immunity Is not due to inherited factors.

BUT… Is acquired as a result of having the disease or

artificially acquired by vaccines or immune serums. Vaccines are not strong enough to cause the disease, but

stimulates the body to develop an immune reaction.

Video One

Video Two

Immunity

If immediate protection is needed, antibodies are obtained from other sources (animals and some humans).

Live or dead organisms may be used. This type of immunity is called

Passive Immunity. It acts immediately, but does not last long as immunity that the body actively produces.

Breast feeding provides passive immunity to an infant from his/her mother’s antibodies that are passed to it in mother’s breast milk.

Common Communicable Diseases

Scabies Lice MRSA VRE Chicken Pox German Measles Herpes Viruses

Cold Sores Fever Blisters Genital Herpes

Infectious Mononucleosis

Lyme Disease Measles (Rubeola) Meningitis Mumps Poliomyelitis Roseola Smallpox Strep Throat Whooping Cough

Online Learning Assignment

Online Assignment Quiz Grade www.teacherpage.com/adeyemi

Take Home Quiz This will help you significantly for your test!