Communicable Diseases
Edmonds School Dist. 15 Health
Text Book Page 620 (answer in
journal)
• Define – communicable disease, viruses,
bacteria, fungi, protozoans & rickettsias
• How are they transmitted?
• How can you prevent?
• Page 637 – Read the information on
Hepatitis. Describe what this disease
does to the body and explain the
difference between A, B & C.
Communicable:
• Caused by direct or indirect spread of
pathogens from one person to another.
They enter and multiply within the human
body.
Causes
• Bacteria (single cell microorganism)
– They enter the body and multiply rapidly
through cell division. Can live anywhere – air,
soil, water – some produce toxins.
• Viruses (genetic material coated by
protein)
– Are not living cells but attach themselves to
living cells (hosts) and injects its genetic
material into that cell, makes copies and
spreads to other cells
Causes continued
• Rickettsias (similar to bacteria)
– Most are found in the intestinal tracts of
insects (fleas, ticks, mites and also mice) and
are passed through bites or through feces
deposited on the skin.
• Fungi (plant like organisms)
– Ring worm or athletes foot. They prefer dark,
damp environments and invade deep tissue
like hair, nails and skin.
How are communicable
diseases spread?
• DIRECT CONTACT
– People, Animals or Environment
• INDIRECT CONTACT
– Contaminated objects – table, door handles,
eating utensils, tooth brush, needles, etc.
– Vectors (flies, mosquitoes & ticks) – transfers
pathogens from person to person
– Water & Food
Prevention
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Wash hands
Food Handling
Strong Immune System
No Sharing (utensils, make up, combs etc)
Contact with people, etc.
Stress…..
Immunizations
Bodies Means of Preventing
Communicable Diseases
• Physical barriers (skin, mucus, cilia etc)
• Chemical barriers (enzymes in saliva and
gastric juices)
• Immune System Response
– Inflammatory Response
– Antigen – substance that is capable of
triggering an immune response
Types of Communicable
Diseases
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Cold and flu
Tuberculosis (affects lungs)
Strep Throat
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Meningitis (inflammation of the membranes
that cover the brain)
Polio (impacts the CNS causes paralysis)
Measles (cold, fever, rash)
Mono (fatigue, swollen glands)
Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)A, B & C