Diseases that spread from one person to another through infected food, contaminated water or pesticides and animals are called communicable diseases. Different factors (pathogens) are responsible for these.
Diseases Caused By Viruses
1. Chicken pox
Pathogen for chicken pox: Mode of infection: Varicella, chicken pox virus. Through scab or contact Incubation period: 12 to 20 days
Symptoms: (i) Fever, headache and loss of appetite; (ii) Dark red rash spreading all over the body on the back and chest. Later, the granules are replaced by vesicles. iii) These vesicles start drying up after a few days, resulting in the formation of scabs. Health (v) This scab starts falling off (transition stage)
Prevention and Treatment: There is currently no vaccine for chicken pox. However, the following precautions must be taken: i) The patient must be kept alone. ii) The patient's clothes and utensils should be disinfected. iii) Fallen scabs should be removed and burnt. A person who has recovered from chickenpox remains safe from this disease throughout his life.
2. Measles virus
Virus (rubella) Transmission method: Air-based Incubation time: Within three to five days.
Symptoms: Symptoms include the common cold and the appearance of small white spots in the mouth and throat. iii) Rashes appear on the body.
Treatment and prevention: (i) The patient should be isolated. ii) It is necessary to maintain cleanliness. iii) Antibiotics treat only secondary infections that are susceptible to recurrence.
3. Poliomyelitis
Pathogen for poliomyelitis: Transmission of poliovirus: Food or water can introduce the virus into the body.
Incubation time: 7 to 14 days
Symptoms: (i) The virus spreads to the brain through the blood after multiplying in intestinal cells. ii) It causes infantile paralysis and damages the brain and nerves. iii) Stiff neck, fever and inability to support the head.
Children are given oral polio vaccine, or OPV, or prevention and treatment medicine at regular intervals. Our country has established the Pulse Polio Program to provide polio vaccine to children.
4. Rabies (also called hydrophobia)
3. Pathogen: Rabies (also known as hydrophobia). Transmission of rabies virus: through the bite of a dangerous dog.
Incubation time: Depending on how far the bite site is from the central nervous system (CNS), that is, the brain or spinal cord, this can take anywhere from 10 days to 1 to 3 months.
Symptoms: Its symptoms are severe headache and high fever. ii) Extreme pain in the muscles of the chest and throat. iii) Death due to fear of water and suffocation.
Prevention and Treatment: (i) Dogs should be vaccinated. ii) Slaughter of rabid animals. iii) A person who has been bitten by a rabid animal is given anti-rabies injection or oral dose.
5. Hepatitis
Hepatitis B Virus: Hepatitis B virus.
Transmission method: Mainly through contaminated water.
Incubation time: Generally 15 to 160 days.
Symptoms: Symptoms (i) Body pain ii) Nausea and loss of appetite. iii) Eyes, skin and urine become dark yellow due to bile pigments. iv) Liver enlargement
Prevention and Treatment: (i) India now offers hepatitis B vaccine. ii) Proper hygiene should be followed. iii) Do not eat anything high in fat.
6. Influenza
Influenza, commonly known as “the flu,” is a disease caused by a virus that infects the respiratory system. Influenza virus is a much more serious illness than the common cold. Influenza is caused by a virus that attacks our body's cells and can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the strain of the virus. There are many strains of influenza virus. New health variants (strains) emerge as a result of continuous mutation of the virus. Due to this constant mutation the virus is able to evade its host's immune system. Sadly, exposure or vaccination provides immunity against one strain but does not protect against other strains. Antibodies against influenza viruses are made when a person is infected; It is possible for influenza to reoccur as a result of a changed or mutated virus because antibodies against the virus do not recognize the changed virus.
Symptoms: Symptoms The following are common symptoms of influenza: i) Fever, which is usually between 100 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit in adults and even higher in children. ii) Symptoms of respiratory tract infection include sore throat, runny nose, headache, muscle pain and extreme fatigue.
Although diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms may occasionally occur with influenza infection, especially in children, they are uncommon. Most people with the flu recover completely within one to two weeks; However, there are some who develop serious complications like pneumonia, which can lead to death.
Treatment and Control: (i) Annual influenza vaccination can prevent much of the illness and death caused by influenza. People who are particularly at risk for complications from chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes or severe forms of anemia should get influenza vaccine. ii) Influenza patients should take aspirin, paracetamol, aspirin (not for children under 16) or ibuprofen as directed by their doctor to reduce symptoms. • Seek immediate medical attention.
7. Dengue
Acute fever known as dengue is caused by a virus. It has two types: 1) Dengue fever and 2) Dengue hemorrhagic fever. Sudden increase in temperature, severe headache and pain behind the eyes, muscles and joints are all symptoms of dengue fever. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is an acute viral infection. This is the advanced stage of dengue fever. It starts with fever and other symptoms like headache, eye pain, joint pain and muscle pain. Then, signs of bleeding appear, such as small red spots on the skin and bleeding from the nose and gums.
What causes dengue to spread? Dengue is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. When a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites a healthy person, the disease is spread. As a result, a healthy person gets virus-laden blood and becomes infected with dengue. Within five to seven days of the infected bite, the disease begins to show its first symptoms.
Aedes mosquito lives indoors in dark places like closets and is active during the day. It lives outside somewhere cool and shady. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in areas of homes, towns and villages where water accumulates, such as in coolers, tires and empty buckets. Within ten days, these eggs become adults.
The incubation period between the bite of the mosquito that spreads dengue and the onset of symptoms, which usually lasts between three and fourteen days,
Blood is analyzed for antibodies against dengue virus to make the diagnosis. Additionally, there is a significant decrease in platelet count in the blood of the infected person.
Symptoms: Symptoms of dengue fever include: (i) A sudden rise in temperature, usually between 104 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 and 45 degrees Celsius), which may last for four to five days. ii) A severe headache that affects mostly the head. iii) Body aches and pain in joints and muscles. iv) Pain behind the eyes which gets worse on moving the eyes. v) Vomiting or nausea. Dengue hemorrhagic fever has many of the same symptoms as dengue fever, including the following: i) Persistent and severe abdominal pain. ii) Skin irritation. iii) Bleeding from mouth, nose or internal organs. iv) Frequent bloody or bloodless vomiting v) Bloody stools resulting from internal bleeding vi) Severe lack of thirst (dry mouth) vii) Weakness, pale, cold skin
Prevention: The following measures can be taken to prevent the spread of dengue fever: i) Preventing mosquitoes from breeding in standing water for more than 72 hours, ii) Preventing mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant water bodies like wells and ponds. prevent. iii) Throw away waste things like bottles and old tires as they store and collect rain water for health. iv) To avoid coming in contact with mosquitoes, apply mosquito repellent cream and wear long sleeves. v) Wear mosquito net even during the day. vi) Do not go out in the morning or evening, when these mosquitoes are most active. vii) Dengue fever patients should be kept in isolation for at least five days. viii) If you think you may have dengue fever, go to the nearest hospital.
Treatment of Dengue Fever and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. Dengue fever patients should rest and drink plenty of fluids. The treatment of dengue hemorrhagic fever is to rehydrate the patient. To control bleeding, some patients require a blood transfusion.
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