Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases

Infectious and Non - Infectious Diseases

4.1

Infectious and Non - Infectious Diseases

Infectious Disease	Non-Infectious Disease
Caused by infection of pathogens directly through mediums and vectors Example: Tuberculosis The disease can be transmitted from one individual to another	Caused by genetic factors or lifestyle Example: Cancer The disease cannot be transmitted from one individual to another

Airborne diseases

Airborne diseases
Type	Droplet transmission Dust transmission
Prevention	Cover the mouth and nose when sneezing, coughing or yawning Do not spit everywhere Avoid being in a crowded place
Example	Tuberculosis Flu Influenza A (H1N1)

Waterborne diseases

Waterborne diseases
Type	Happens in an area with an inadequate water supply and poor sanitation
Prevention	Build toilets with good sanitation Boil drinking water properly Wash hands with soap after using the toilet
Example	Cholera Typhoid Amoebic dysentery

Infection through contact

Infection through vectors

Example: Ringworm and Tinea - Touching the infected skin or wearing the same clothes of an infected person will cause infections to occur

Animals that transmit these pathogens are called vectors.

Example :

1) Cockroach - Salmonella typhi

2) Aedes mosquito - Dengue virus

How do Vectors Spread Diseases?

Example :

A fly that lands on dirt has pathogen on its legs and body
The fly transmits the pathogens to the food
The pathogens enter the body of the person who eats the contaminated food

Three stages of preventions of infectious diseases

1) Primary stage - Improving health

2) Secondary stage - Determining transmission of infections through active and passive case detection

3) Tertiary stage - Controlling vector populations