Communicable vs. Non-Communicable Diseases

Communicable Diseases

• Also known as infectious or transmissible diseases
• Infectious agents are transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, bodily fluids, blood products, insect bites, or through the air
• The spread can be direct through close physical contact or indirect through air, water, or other vectors
• After entering the body, the organism undergoes an incubation period before symptoms appear
• The immune system tends to destroy infectious agents, but disease emerges when the organism avoids immune response
• Some diseases occur seasonally
• Common symptoms are fever, diarrhea, headache, muscle ache, and fatigue
• Most are acute diseases, with quick symptom onset

Non-Communicable Diseases

• Also known as non-contagious or non-infectious diseases
• Not caused by infectious agents like bacteria or viruses.
• Do not spread from person to person
• Primarily caused by unhealthy diet and lifestyle
• Can be triggered by mutations, heredity, and environmental changes
• Not seasonal and can occur anytime
• Cancer and diabetes can be hereditary
• Symptoms appear gradually, making them difficult to diagnose
• Often pose severe and long-lasting health effects
• Some chronic varieties have temporary relapses
• There are no specific treatments but medicines prevent the disease from getting worse
• Most are not curable
• Prevention involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular check-ups

Comparison of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

• Communicable diseases are caused by infectious agents and can be transmitted; non-communicable diseases are not transmitted and are mainly caused by lifestyle and eating habits
• Communicable diseases are also known as infectious diseases; non-communicable diseases are also known as chronic diseases
• Communicable diseases are typically acute, appearing quickly; non-communicable diseases are chronic, lasting longer and progressing gradually
• Communicable diseases can be seasonal, non-communicable diseases are not seasonal
• Communicable diseases are mainly caused by pathogenic microorganisms; non-communicable diseases are caused by nutrition deficiency, hormonal deficiency, or abnormal proliferation of cells
• Communicable diseases cannot be inherited; non-communicable diseases may be inherited
• Viruses, fungi, and bacteria act as agents/vectors for communicable diseases; there are no agents for non-communicable diseases as they depend on personal diet, allergy, or physical inactivity
• Communicable diseases can spread through air, direct contact, contaminated surfaces, food, etc.; non-communicable diseases do not spread from person to person