infectious diseases

Chapter 13 Preventing Infectious Diseases By Amanda Moore

Section 1 What Are Infectious Diseases?

Section 2 Protecting Yourself From Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are

caused by: bacteria,

viruses, fungi, protists,

and parasites.

They are spread by:

person to person, food

and water, environment,

and animals.

You can treat fungal

infections by using strong

prescription medicines or

over-the-counter antifungal

medicine

You can treat bacterial

diseases by using

antibiotics. Antibiotics kill or

weaken the bacteria,

allowing the person to get

better.

To prevent antibiotic

resistance, you should only

take antibiotics prescribed

to you, and you need to

finish your antibiotic, even

if you feel better.

Your body fights disease by

using physical barriers like

skin, mucus membranes, and

chemicals. It also has an

inflammatory response that

attacks pathogens. Your

immune system also protects

the body by sending white

blood cells out to kill

pathogens.

To stay healthy, you must

protect yourself, by keeping

your body healthy. You also must

eat a healthy balanced diet to have

the nutrients to kill pathogens. You

also need to drink water which

helps the immune system work

properly. It is important to exercise

regularly by getting at least 60

minutes a day. Lastly, it is

important to get enough sleep

because it keeps the body

functioning properly.

You become immune to a disease

by being exposed to it.

When you are sick, you need to

stay at home, drink plenty of

fluids, and follow directions a

doctor gets.

To prevent the spread of

infectious diseases, get

vaccinated, keep clean, and

don’t share personal items.

Section 3 Common Infectious Diseases

Diseases affect everyone because everyone

is exposed to pathogens and get sick at

one point in their life.

Two Bacterial Diseases:

1. Strep throat: Symptoms are sore

throat, fever, yellow or white

specks on tonsils. Ways spread:

person to person contact with

mucus

2. Tetanus: Symptoms are severe

muscle spasms. Ways spread:

enters body through cuts and

wounds

Two Viral Diseases:

1. Flu: headache, sore throat, sore muscles, fever,

vomiting, fatigue, and cough. Ways spread:

person to person contact with mucus or saliva

2. Cold: scratchy sore throat, sneezing and runny

nose, and mild cough. Ways spread: person to

person contact with mucus or saliva

Fungal Disease: Athlete’s foot- itchy skin and red lesions

on feet

Protozoan Disease: Amebic dysentery- nausea, diarrhea,

and sometimes fever

Parasitic Disease: Head lice: itchiness and sores on head

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and

National Institutes of Health