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