What Is the Meaning of Communicable Diseases?

Every living creature is in danger of contracting a communicable disease. These diseases have been around for thousands of years, and scientists are discovering new ones every day. With the widely publicized news on the H1N1 virus (called swine flu), many people are becoming increasing aware of communicable diseases. While many of these diseases are highly preventable, others are unseen and can be fatal. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is through education and awareness. Here is quick guide to get you started:

Significance

• The World Health Organization estimates that more than 30% of deaths (worldwide) are a result of communicable, infectious diseases (see Resources below). With the increasing occurrences of avian influenza and the H1N1 virus (swine flu), communicable diseases are on the rise.

Features

• Communicable diseases, commonly known as contagious or infectious diseases, are diseases that are carried by pathogens and transmitted through people, animals, foods, surfaces, or air. Pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and parasites, usually referred to as germs, can be found everywhere. Although many diseases have similar symptoms (or no symptoms at all, their modes of transmission, contagiousness, potential of fatality drastically differ from one disease to the next.

Types

• There are three main categories of communicable diseases; gastrointestinal, sexual, and respiratory. Communicable gastrointestinal diseases, for example cholera and giardiasis (an intestinal disease caused by a parasite), attack the organs of the digestive system. Gastrointestinal diseases are usually the result of consuming contaminated food or water. Sexually transmitted diseases and infections (also known as STDs, STIs, or venereal disease) are primarily spread through sexual contact. They are also transmitted through blood from intravenous (IV) drug needles. Diseases like Chlamydia and HIV/AIDS initially attack reproduction organs, but if left untreated, it can also affect the eyes, brain, and immune system. Infectious respiratory diseases are usually the least preventable because they are primarily transmitted through breath and air. Affecting the lungs, the circular system, and the lymphatic system, diseases like tuberculosis and pneumonia are usually fatal if not detected and treated early.

Identification

• Communicable diseases are usually spread by people, foods, and animals. In human-to-human transmission, diseases can be passed through blood, semen, breast milk, saliva, and (in airborne diseases) by breath. Animal-to-human transmission usually occurs as a result of an animal bite or a parasitic organism attaching itself to a human host. Humans can contract rabies from a dog bite, Lyme disease from an infected tick, and malaria, yellow fever, and the West Nile virus from mosquitoes. The most common food diseases are Escherichia coli (better known as E.coli) and salmonella poisoning, usually caused by consuming raw eggs or uncooked meat (see Resources below).

Prevention/Solution

• Although some communicable diseases are airborne and nearly impossible to protect yourself from, many others are highly preventable. Human-to-human communicable diseases can be prevented by regular hand washing and proper waste disposal. The risk of contracting a sexual disease can be drastically reduced by practicing safe sex or abstinence. Many other infectious diseases can be prevented with vaccinations. In order to prevent an epidemic and eradicate some infectious diseases, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all school-age children to be vaccinated before they can attend school (see Resources below). To prevent food diseases, the CDC discourages consumption of raw eggs and meats. They also recommend that disinfecting surfaces to prevent cross contamination.