SURVEY ON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

INTRODUCTION
Communicable diseases are diseases that are as a result of the causative
organism spreading from one person to another or from animals to people. They
are among the major causes of illnesses in Kenya and the entire Africa. These
diseases affect people of all ages but more so children due to their exposure to
environmental conditions that support the spread. Communicable diseases are
preventable base on interventions placed on various levels of transmission of the
disease.
This region is also faced with new and emerging diseases which are
challenging public health as never before. Unfortunately, many of these diseases
affect the poor and marginalized sections of society, and contribute not only to ill
health and poverty at micro-level but also have serious socio-economic
implications at the macro-level. Health workers have an important role to play in
the control of these diseases by applying effective and efficient management,
prevention and control measures. Health workers need to be equipped with
capacity to target communicable diseases for eradication.

MODES OF TRANSMISSION
1. Direct Transmission of Communicable Diseases:
In this, the pathogens are transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person
directly without an intermediate agent.
(a) By direct contact with an infected person i.e., hand shake, mouth-to-mouth
kissing, sexual act, etc. e.g., contagious diseases like chickenpox, smallpox,
measles, leprosy, ringworm, gonorrhea syphilis etc.
(b) Droplet infection (though coughing, sneezing and spitting of infected persons)
e.g., pneumonia, diphtheria, influenza, tuberculosis (Fig. 8.2), common cold,
whooping cough, etc. These are more common in more crowded living conditions.
(c) Contact with soil, e.g., bacterial cysts of tetanus.
(d) Animal bites e.g., rabies viruses.
(e) Tran placental transmission.
The viruses of German measles and AIDS; and bacteria of syphilis can be
transmitted from the maternal blood into foetal blood through placenta.
2. Indirect Transmission of Communicable Diseases:
When the pathogens can be transmitted from the reservoir of infection to a
healthy person through some intermediate agents.
It occurs in following ways:
(a) Vector borne diseases e.g., malaria (female Anopheles Fig. 8.3), sleeping
sickness (vector is tse fly), dengue (Aedes mosquito), cholera (housefly), etc.
(b) Vehicle borne. Pathogens of cholera, dysentery, typhoid etc. are transmitted by
agencies like conta-minated food, water etc. Such diseases are more common in
areas without safe supplies of drinking water. AIDS is spread by blood or semen of
suffering donors.

AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Following initial infection, a person may
not notice any symptoms or may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness.
Typically, this is followed by a prolonged period with no symptoms. As the
infection progresses, it interferes more with the immune system, increasing the risk
of developing common infections such as tuberculosis, as well as other
opportunistic infections, and tumors that rarely affect people who have working
immune systems. These late symptoms of infection are referred to as acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This stage is often also associated with
unintended weight loss.
HIV is spread primarily by unprotected sex (including anal and oral sex),
contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child
during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva
and tears, do not transmit HIV. Methods of prevention include safe sex, needle
exchange programs, treating those who are infected, and male circumcision.
Disease in a baby can often be prevented by giving both the mother and child
antiretroviral medication. There is no cure or vaccine; however, antiretroviral
treatment can slow the course of the disease and may lead to a near-normal life
expectancy. Treatment is recommended as soon as the diagnosis is made. Without
treatment, the average survival time after infection is 11 years.
CONCLUSION
Maintaining good health and preventing disease are important factors for a
person’s quality of life. In developing and developed countries alike, health
concerns pose serious economic and social challenges.
Preventable communicable, or infectious, diseases like malaria and
HIV/AIDS account for millions of deaths in the world each year, especially in low-
income countries. Non communicable, or chronic, diseases like heart disease and
diabetes are having an increasing effect across the globe.
Disease prevention depends on many factors like access to medical care and
supplies, infrastructure, and quality health education. Ensuring equitable access to
health care resources like these is a shared global responsibility.
SUBMITTED BY,
ANJU VIJAYAN