Infectious Diseases

Q: What are Infectious Diseases?

A: Diseases spread from person to person by pathogens.

Pathogens

Q: What are Pathogens?

A: Derived from Greek:

pathos means “suffering”

gen - means “give birth to”.Translation…..

“give birth to suffering”

2.Viruses•Non-living things• Invade cells and take over•No cure

1. Bacteria• Living things• Grow in warm, dark, moist places• Can be cured with antibiotics

Two most common Pathogens

How do Infectious Diseases Spread?

1. Infected people

2. Contaminated objects

3. Contaminated food and water

4. Infected Animals

Modes of Transmission (spread)?

1. Direct (kissing, sex, bites) e.g. “mono”, HIV, gonorrhea, herpes, chlamydia, rabies

2. Indirect (drinking glasses, toothbrushes, toys) e.g. influenza, strep throat

3. Airborne (coughing, sneezing, aerosol, droplet) e.g. influenza, TB

4. Vector-borne (mosquitoes, ticks, fleas) e.g. malaria, lyme disease

5. Waterborne (pools, streams) e.g. cholera, Giardia diarrhea

6. Foodborne (chicken, seafood) e.g. food poisoning, hepatitis A, tapeworms

7. Fecal-oral (poor handwashing) e.g. polio salmonella

Horton & Parker: Informed Infection Control Practice (www)

Chain of Infection

Q: Why aren't we always sick?

• Clean Water• Sewage System• Disinfectants• Antiseptics• Immunization Shots• Hospitals• Immune System

Q: Why do we get sick?• Gender• Genetics• Climate / weather• Poor nutrition• Stress• Lack of sleep• Smoking• Hygiene

Ways to Prevent Infectious Diseases

• Wash your hands• Keep your room cool and well lit• Avoid sick people• Healthy Diet• Exercise Regularly• Control Stress• 8 hours of sleep• Drink plenty of water!

Any questions?