Communicable Diseases Overview

Communicable Diseases

• Smallpox: Highly infectious disease caused by the variola virus.

• Incubation period: 11-14 days.

• Transmission: airborne or droplet.

• Rash pattern: centrifugal (starts peripherally on limbs, progresses to center).

• Last case globally: October 26, 1977 (Somalia).

• Eradication declared: May 8, 1980 (WHO).

• Chickenpox: Acute infectious disease caused by varicella zoster virus (HHV-3).

• Symptoms: fever, malaise, aches.

• Transmission: droplet.

• Infective period: 1-2 days before rash, 4-5 days after.

• Incubation period: 14-16 days (sometimes 10-21).

• Rash pattern: centripetal (starts centrally on chest/face/abdomen, spreads out).

• Complications: hemorrhage, pneumonia, Reye's syndrome.

• Measles: Highly infectious viral disease (Rubeola).

• Causative agent: RNA measles virus.

• Transmission: droplet/direct contact.

• Infective period: 5 days before and 5 days after rash appears.

• Incubation period: 10-14 days.

• Symptoms: fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose, rash.

• Koplik's spots: bluish-white spots on red base inside cheeks.

• Complications: diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis).

• Vitamin A deficiency is a complication.

• Rubella: Viral disease also known as German measles or three-day measles.

• Causative organism: RNA Rubella virus (Togaviridae/Matonaviridae).

• Incubation period: 14-21 days.

• Transmission: droplet, vertical transmission (mother-to-fetus).

• Congenital rubella syndrome possible if a pregnant woman is infected.

• Rash appears on face and neck.

• Infected period: rashes present on skin.

• Roseola: Sixth disease; caused by human herpes virus HHV-6A, 6B, & 7 (Roseolovirus).

• Transmission: saliva.

• Commonly affects young children.

• Symptoms include fever and rash.

Other Diseases

• Mumps: Acute infectious viral disease (paramyxoviridae).

• Incubation period: 14-21 days.

• Transmission: respiratory droplets or saliva.

• Parotid gland swelling is a key symptom.

• Possible complications: meningitis, orchitis.

• Swine Flu (Influenza): Caused by H1N1 virus.

• Transmission: droplet.

• Incubation period: 1-4 days.

• Symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, weakness, body aches.

• Diphtheria: Acute bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

• Transmission: droplet, fomite (contaminated objects).

• Pseudomembranes can form in the throat.

• Diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics is treatment.

• Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Bacterial respiratory infection, gram-negative Bordetella pertussis.

• Transmission: droplet, fomites.

• Stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, convalescent.

• Whooping cough is a distinctive symptom.

• Tuberculosis: Chronic bacterial infection (bacillus-Mycobacterium tuberculosis) typically affects the lungs.

• Transmission: airborne.

• Incubation: weeks to months.

• Symptoms: fever, cough, weight loss.

• Diagnosis: sputum microscopy, Mantoux test, chest X-rays.

• Treatment: Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS).

• Meningococcal Meningitis: Bacterial infection affecting the meninges (brain coverings).

• Causative agent: Neisseria meningitidis.

• Transmission: droplet.

• Poliomyelitis: Viral infection affecting the central nervous system.

• Causative agent: poliovirus.

• Transmission: fecal-oral route.

• Possible paralysis.

• Hepatitis: Viral infection affecting the liver.

• Different types (A, B, C, D, E).

• Transmission varies by type, often fecal-oral, blood-to-blood contact, or sexual contact.

• Cholera: Acute diarrheal illness caused by Vibrio cholerae.

• Transmission: fecal-oral.

• Rice-water stool is a key symptom.

• Acute Diarrheal Disease: Loose and watery stools, commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections.

• Dehydration is a serious complication.

• Typhoid Fever: Caused by Salmonella typhi.

• Transmission: fecal-oral route.

• Symptoms: High fever, chills, malaise.

• Dengue Fever: Viral infection caused by arbovirus Flavi-virus (Aedes aegypti mosquito).

• Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever: severe progression with potential shock..

• Malaria: Protozoan infection transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes.

• Causative agent: Plasmodium species.

• Symptoms: fever, chills, flu-like symptoms.

• Leprosy: Chronic infectious disease (Mycobacterium leprae) affecting peripheral nerves, skin, and other organs.

• Transmission: prolonged close contact.

• AIDS: Caused by the HIV virus that weakens the immune system.

  • Transmission: blood, sexual contact, mother-to-child.

• SARS: Caused by a novel strain of coronavirus.

  • Transmission: close contact.

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic) transmitted primarily through sexual contact.

Preventing and Controlling Disease:

• Proper hygiene is crucial to preventing transmission.
• Isolation procedures are important for containment.
• Vaccination is a key preventive measure for many of these diseases.

Explore the key features of various communicable diseases including smallpox, chickenpox, and measles. This quiz covers their causes, transmission methods, incubation periods, and symptoms, providing a comprehensive understanding of these infectious diseases. Test your knowledge on the history and eradication efforts as well.