Signs of Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases

With diseases such as swine flu making headlines, health officials worldwide urge people learn more about communicable---that is, contagious---diseases. But the World Health Organization (WHO) says it's just as important to know the warning signs for non-communicable illnesses, which aren't transmitted by person-to-person contact.

Significance

• According to the WHO, non-communicable diseases have become "the greatest disease burden." In Europe, for example, they account for about 60 percent of all diseases reported on that continent.

Considerations

• For communicable and non-communicable diseases, there typically are signs that allow people to avoid exposure or change their lifestyle. Knowing the symptoms of influenza or the early warning signs of a heart attack can lessen the impact of those conditions.

Communicable Diseases

• Warning signs of communicable diseases usually include obvious, measurable symptoms---fever, headaches and muscle aches, cough or chills. School health officials can use those signs to educate teachers, students and parents about early prevention and recognition.

Non-communicable Diseases

• For non-communicable diseases, the emphasis is on risk factors. For example, warning signs for cardiovascular diseases are high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and excessive alcohol use. The WHO urges countries to educate and help people who may be at risk.

Theories/Speculation

• Researchers at the University of California at Santa Cruz speculate that a country's wealth affects the incidence of communicable and non-communicable diseases.