MODULE 3:

Communicable and Non-Communicable

Diseases

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 Personal Community
and Environmental
Health
Module 3: Personal Health
Common Communicable and Non-Communicable Deceases

Overview of the Module

Health is wealth. Being healthy is one of the priority of all
human. If your healthy you can live freely and happily. Taking care of
your self is one way to stay healthy but no matter how hard we try to
keep healthy, there are factors that may affect our health.
This module will help you learn the common non-communicable
and communicable diseases. This will guide you on how to prevent the
different diseases and its treatments.

Learning Outcomes

1. Define Deceases, communicable

and non-communicable
deceases.
2. Enumerate the different
communicable deceases.
3. Enumerate the non-
communicable deceases.
4. Identify communicable and non-
communicable deceases.
5. Differentiate communicable and
non-communicable deceases.
6. Identify the symptoms of
communicable and non-
communicable deceases.
7. Explain how the treatment is
done for communicable
deceases.
8. Discuss how to prevent
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 Key Terms
 Disease
 a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure
or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any
immediate external injury.
 Non-communicable disease
 a non-infectious health condition that cannot be spread from person to
person.
 Cardiovascular disease
 a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
 Stroke
 a sudden disabling attack or loss of consciousness caused by an
interruption in the flow of blood to the brain, especially through
thrombosis.
 Peripheral arterial disease
 a blockage in the arteries to the limbs, usually the legs.
 Aortic diseases
 a group of conditions affecting the aorta.
 Cancer
 a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential
to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
 Chronic respiratory diseases
 ailments affecting the airways and lung structures.
 Diabetes
 the body cannot produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates
blood sugar (glucose).
 Communicable disease
 spread from one person to another through a variety of ways that
include: contact with blood and bodily fluids; breathing in an airborne
virus; or by being bitten by an insect.
 Influenza
 a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system.
 Pneumonia
 a lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the
air sacs fill with pus and may become solid.
 Chickenpox
 an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
 Shingles
 a viral infection that causes a painful rash.
 Measles

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 COMMON COMMUNICABLE AND NON-COMMUNICABLE
DECEASES
NON-COMMUNICABLE DECEASES

A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the

structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not due to any
immediate external injury. Diseases are often known to be medical conditions that
are associated with specific symptoms and signs.

The initial cause of the diseased state may lie within the individual organism
itself, and the disease is then said to be idiopathic, innate, primary, or “essential.”
It may result from a course of medical treatment, either as an unavoidable side
effect or because the treatment itself was ill-advised; in either case the disease is
classed as iatrogenic. Finally, the disease may be caused by some agent external
to the organism, such as a chemical that is a toxic agent. In this case the disease
is non-communicable; that is, it affects only the individual organism exposed to it.
The external agent may be itself a living organism capable of multiplying within
the host and subsequently infecting other organisms; in this case the disease is
said to be communicable.

What is a non-communicable disease?

A non-communicable disease is a non-infectious health condition that
cannot be spread from person to person. It also lasts for a long period of time.
This is also known as a chronic disease.
A combination of genetic, physiological, lifestyle, and environmental factors
can cause these diseases. Some risk factors include:
 unhealthy diets
 lack of physical activity
 smoking and secondhand smoke
 excessive use of alcohol

What are the most common non-communicable diseases?

Some non-communicable diseases are more common than others. The four
main types of non-communicable diseases include cardiovascular disease, cancer,
chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.
1. Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting
the heart or blood vessels. It's usually associated with a build-up of fatty
deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood
clots. It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the

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brain, heart, kidneys and eyes. CVD is one of the main causes of death and
disability in the UK, but it can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy
lifestyle.

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 Poor diet and physical inactivity can cause increased:
 blood pressure
 blood glucose
 blood lipids
 obesity

These conditions increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Some people are born with (genetically predisposed to have) certain
cardiovascular conditions.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of non-communicable disease

deaths. Some common non-communicable cardiovascular conditions and diseases
include:
 heart attack
 stroke
 coronary artery disease
 cerebrovascular disease
 peripheral artery disease (PAD)
 congenital heart disease
 deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Types of Cardiovascular Decease

There are many different types of CVD. Four of the main types are
described below.

1. Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease occurs when the
flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle
is blocked or reduced. This puts an increased
strain on the heart, and can lead to:
 Angina – chest pain caused by
restricted blood flow to the heart muscle
 Heart attacks – where the blood flow to
the heart muscle is suddenly blocked

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  Heart failure – where the heart is
unable to pump blood around the body
properly

2. Strokes and TIAs

A stroke is where the The main symptoms of a stroke or TIA

blood supply to part of the can be remembered with the word FAST,
brain is cut off, which can which stands for:
 Face – the face may have dropped
cause brain damage and
on one side, the person may be
possibly death.
unable to smile, or their mouth or
A Transient Ischemic eye may have dropped.
attack (also called a TIA or  Arms – the person may not be able
"mini-stroke") is similar, but to lift both arms and keep them
the blood flow to the brain is there because of arm weakness or
numbness in one arm.
only temporarily disrupted
 Speech – their speech may be
slurred or garbled, or they may not
be able to talk at all.
 Time – it's time to dial emergency
hotline immediately if you see any
of these signs or symptoms.

3. Peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease occurs when there's a blockage in the arteries to
the limbs, usually the legs. This can cause:
 dull or cramping leg pain, which is worse when walking and gets
better with rest
 hair loss on the legs and feet
 numbness or weakness in the legs

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  persistent ulcers (open sores) on the feet and legs

4. Aortic disease

Aortic diseases are a group of

conditions affecting the aorta. This is the
largest blood vessel in the body, which
carries blood from the heart to the rest
of the body. One of most common aortic
diseases is an aortic aneurysm, where
the aorta becomes weakened and bulges
outwards. This doesn't usually have any
symptoms, but there's a chance it could
burst and cause life-threatening
bleeding.

Causes of Cardiovascular Decease

The exact cause of CVD isn't clear, but there are lots of things that can
increase your risk of getting it. These are called "risk factors". The more risk
factors you have, the greater your chances of developing CVD.

Part of this check involves assessing your individual CVD risk and advising
you how to reduce it if necessary. The main risk factors for CVD are outlined
below.
 High blood pressure - High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of
the most important risk factors for CVD. If your blood pressure is too
high, it can damage your blood vessels.
 Smoking - Smoking and other tobacco use is also a significant risk
factor for CVD. The harmful substances in tobacco can damage and
narrow your blood vessels.

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 High cholesterol - Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the
blood. If you have high cholesterol, it can cause your blood vessels to
narrow and increase your risk of developing a blood clot.
 Diabetes - Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes your blood
sugar level to become too high. High blood sugar levels can damage
the blood vessels, making them more likely to become narrowed.
Many people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight or obese, which
is also a risk factor for CVD.
 Inactivity - If you don't exercise regularly, it's more likely that you'll
have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and be overweight.
All of these are risk factors for CVD. Exercising regularly will help
keep your heart healthy. When combined with a healthy diet, exercise
can also help you maintain a healthy weight.
 Being overweight or obese - Being overweight or obese increases
your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, both of
which are risk factors for CVD.

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 Preventing Cardiovascular Decease

A healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of CVD. If you already have CVD,
staying as healthy as possible can reduce the chances of it getting worse.

Ways you can reduce your CVD risk are outlined below.
 Stop smoking
 Have a balanced diet
 Exercise regularly
 Maintain a healthy weight
 Cut down on alcohol

Medication
If you have a particularly high risk of developing CVD, your GP may
recommend taking medication to reduce your risk. Medications that may
be recommended include statins to lower blood cholesterol levels, low-
dose aspirin to prevent blood clots, and tablets to reduce blood pressure.

2. Cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the
potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with
benign tumors, which do not spread. Cancer affects people of all ages,
socioeconomic statuses, genders, and ethnicities. It’s the second most-common
cause Trusted Source of non-communicable disease death globally.

Some cancers cannot be avoided due to genetic risks. However, the World
Health Organization estimates that 30 to 50 percent Trusted Source of cancers
are preventable with adoption of healthy lifestyle choices.

Key steps in preventing disease include:

 avoiding tobacco
 limiting alcohol
 getting immunized against cancer-causing infections

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 The most common cancer deaths in men worldwide include:
 lung
 liver
 stomach
 colorectal
 prostate

The most common cancer deaths in women worldwide include:

 breast
 lung
 colorectal
 cervical
 stomach

Causes
There are many causes of cancer, and some are preventable. In addition to
smoking, risk factors for cancer include:
 heavy alcohol consumption
 excess body weight
 physical inactivity
 poor nutrition

Is cancer genetic?
Genetic factors can contribute to the development of cancer. A person’s
genetic code tells their cells when to divide and expire. Changes in the genes can
lead to faulty instructions, and cancer can result. Genes also influence the cells’
production of proteins, and proteins carry many of the instructions for cellular
growth and division. Some genes change proteins that would usually repair
damaged cells. This can lead to cancer. If a parent has these genes, they may pass
on the altered instructions to their offspring. Some genetic changes occur after
birth, and factors such as smoking and sun exposure can increase the risk. Other
changes that can result in cancer take place in the chemical signals that
determine how the body deploys, or “expresses” specific genes.
Finally, a person can inherit a predisposition for a type of cancer. A doctor
may refer to this as having a hereditary cancer syndrome. Inherited genetic
mutations significantly contribute to the development of 5–10 percent of cancer
cases.

Treatments

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 Innovative research has fueled the development of new medications and
treatment technologies. Doctors usually prescribe treatments based on the type of
cancer, its stage at diagnosis, and the person’s overall health.

The side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss. However, advances in

treatment are improving the outlook for people with cancer.

Below are examples of approaches to cancer treatment:

 Chemotherapy aims to kill cancerous cells with medications that target

rapidly dividing cells. The drugs can also help shrink tumors, but the side
effects can be severe.

 Hormone therapy involves taking medications that change how certain

hormones work or interfere with the body’s ability to produce them. When
hormones play a significant role, as with prostate and breast cancers, this is
a common approach.

 Immunotherapy uses medications and other treatments to boost the

immune system and encourage it to fight cancerous cells. Two examples of
these treatments are checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell transfer.
 Precision medicine, or personalized medicine, is a newer, developing
approach. It involves using genetic testing to determine the best treatments
for a person’s particular presentation of cancer. Researchers have yet to
show that it can effectively treat all types of cancer, however.

 Radiation therapy uses high-dose radiation to kill cancerous cells. Also, a

doctor may recommend using radiation to shrink a tumor before surgery or
reduce tumor-related symptoms.

 Stem cell transplant can be especially beneficial for people with blood-
related cancers, such as leukemia or lymphoma. It involves removing cells,
such as red or white blood cells, that chemotherapy or radiation has
destroyed. Lab technicians then strengthen the cells and put them back into
the body.
 Surgery is often a part of a treatment plan when a person has a cancerous
tumor. Also, a surgeon may remove lymph nodes to reduce or prevent the
disease’s spread.

 Targeted therapies perform functions within cancerous cells to prevent

them from multiplying. They can also boost the immune system. Two

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 examples of these therapies are small-molecule drugs and monoclonal
antibodies.
Doctors will often employ more than one type of treatment to maximize
effectiveness.
Types
The most common type of cancer in the U.S. is breast cancer, followed by
lung and prostate cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute, which
excluded no melanoma skin cancers from these findings. Smoking increases
the risk of many different types of cancer. Each year, more than 40,000 people
in the country receive a diagnosis of one of the following types of cancer:
 bladder
 colon and rectal
 endometrial
 kidney
 leukemia
 liver
 melanoma
 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
 pancreatic
 thyroid
3. Chronic respiratory disease
Chronic respiratory diseases are ailments affecting the airways and lung
structures. Some of these diseases have a genetic basis.

However, other causes include lifestyle choices such as smoking and

environmental conditions like exposure to air pollution, poor air quality, and poor
ventilation. While these diseases are incurable, they can be managed with
medical treatment. The most common chronic respiratory diseases include:
 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)
 asthma
 occupational lung diseases, such as black
lung
 pulmonary hypertension
 cystic fibrosis

Prevention and Risk Factors

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 The major risk factors for lung disease are well known. Mitigation of
these risks can prevent or reduce the impact of lung disease. For example:
 Tobacco Control
Direct or indirect exposure to tobacco smoke is a major risk factor for
all lung diseases, as well as other major NCDs, including cardiovascular
disease, cancer and diabetes. Effective tobacco control is essential to any
strategy for preventing lung disease.
 Occupational Health
Preventive measures, such as adequate ventilation and early detection
are vital to addressing occupational lung diseases.
 Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality

Improvements in cook stove technology can help reduce exposure to

indoor air pollution in homes. Smoke free legislation protects air quality in
workplaces, public places, health care facilities, educational facilities and
public transportation. Other air quality controls can reduce and eliminate
exposure from industrial emissions, traffic, etc.

 Diet and Nutrition

Associations have been reported between chronic respiratory disease

and diet. It is therefore feasible that dietary strategies compatible with
those already existing for the control of coronary heart disease, diabetes
and cancer could be developed for the primary and secondary prevention of
CRDs as well.

 Early life

Evidence shows that a child’s health in the first year of life affects the
subsequent respiratory health. Maternal smoking during pregnancy
adversely affects the lung function of the child at birth.

Treatments
There is no cure but there are treatment options to try to reduce the
symptoms, slow the progression and improve quality of life.
Treatments for lung and breathing disorders will depend on the severity and
sometimes root cause of the disease. Our team of specialists will work closely
with you to develop an individualized treatment plan.
 Asthma: The most common treatment for asthma is rescue and controller
inhalers, but other treatments and medications can be used. Doctors also
recommend patients identify and reduce asthma triggers. Common triggers

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 include allergies, viruses, exercise, cold weather and fumes. Patients are
also often taught skills to monitor and manage their asthma.

 Chronic Cough: Some of the tests that may be used to diagnose the cause
of a chronic cough may include a chest X-ray and other radiology tests,
breathing tests, pH monitoring, swallow tests and upper GI endoscopy if
reflux is associated with the cough. The treatment of chronic cough is
usually directed at its cause. Our specialists can help determine your best
options for treatment.

 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): The most common

cause of COPD is smoking, although breathing in pollutants, dust or
chemicals can also be the cause. For smokers, smoking cessation can help
prevent the disease or keep it from getting worse. COPD can also be treated
with inhalers, medications, oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehab. In severe
cases, surgery may be an option.
4. Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin, a hormone
that regulates blood sugar (glucose). It can also occur when the body cannot
effectively use the insulin it produces.

Some effects of diabetes include heart disease, vision loss, and kidney
injury. If blood sugar levels are not controlled, diabetes can seriously damage
other organs and systems in the body over time.

There are two main types of diabetes:

 Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed during

childhood or young adulthood. It’s the result of
an immune system dysfunction.

 Type 2 diabetes is often acquired during later

adulthood. It’s typically the result of poor diet,
inactivity, obesity, and other lifestyle and
environmental factors.

Other types of diabetes include:

 Gestational diabetes, which causes elevated blood sugar in 3 to 8
percent of pregnant women.

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  Prediabetes, a condition defined by higher-than-normal blood sugar
levels that lead to a very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the
near future.

A rare condition called diabetes insipidus is not related to diabetes

mellitus, although it has a similar name. It’s a different condition in which your
kidneys remove too much fluid from your body.
Each type of diabetes has unique symptoms, causes, and treatments. Learn
more about how these types differ from one another.
Symptoms of diabetes
Diabetes symptoms are caused by rising blood sugar.

 General symptoms
The general symptoms of diabetes include:
 increased hunger - extreme fatigue
 increased thirst - sores that don’t heal
 weight loss - Symptoms in men
 frequent urination
 blurry vision
In addition to the general symptoms of diabetes, men with diabetes may
have a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and poor muscle strength.

 Symptoms in women
Women with diabetes can also have symptoms such as urinary tract
infections, yeast infections, and dry, itchy skin.

 Type 1 diabetes
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes can include:
 extreme hunger
 increased thirst
 unintentional weight loss
 frequent urination
 blurry vision
 tiredness
 It may also result in mood changes.

 Type 2 diabetes
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:
 increased hunger
 increased thirst
 increased urination

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  blurry vision
 tiredness
 sores that are slow to heal

It may also cause recurring infections. This is because elevated glucose

levels make it harder for the body to heal.

 Gestational diabetes
Most women with gestational diabetes don’t have any symptoms. The
condition is often detected during a routine blood sugar test or oral glucose
tolerance test that is usually performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of
gestation.

In rare cases, a woman with gestational diabetes will also experience

increased thirst or urination.

Causes of diabetes
Different causes are associated with each type of diabetes.

 Type 1 diabetes
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes. For some
reason, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing
beta cells in the pancreas. Genes may play a role in some people. It’s also
possible that a virus sets off the immune system attack.

 Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of genetics and lifestyle
factors. Being overweight or obese increases your risk too. Carrying extra
weight, especially in your belly, makes your cells more resistant to the effects
of insulin on your blood sugar. This condition runs in families. Family members
share genes that make them more likely to get type 2 diabetes and to be
overweight.

 Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy.
The placenta produces hormones that make a pregnant woman’s cells less
sensitive to the effects of insulin. This can cause high blood sugar during
pregnancy.

Women who are overweight when they get pregnant or who gain too
much weight during their pregnancy are more likely to get gestational

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diabetes. Both genes and environmental factors play a role in triggering
diabetes

Treatment of diabetes
Doctors treat diabetes with a few different medications. Some of these
drugs are taken by mouth, while others are available as injections.

Insulin is the main treatment for type 1 diabetes. It replaces the

hormone your body isn’t able to produce.
There are four types of insulin that are most commonly used. They’re
differentiated by how quickly they start to work, and how long their effects
last:

 Rapid-acting insulin starts to work within 15 minutes and its effects

last for 3 to 4 hours.
 Short-acting insulin starts to work within 30 minutes and lasts 6 to 8
hours.
 Intermediate-acting insulin starts to work within 1 to 2 hours and
lasts 12 to 18 hours.
 Long-acting insulin starts to work a few hours after injection and lasts
24 hours or longer.

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 COMMON COMMUNICABLE DEACESES
What is communicable decease?
A communicable disease is one that is spread from one person to
another through a variety of ways that include: contact with blood and bodily
fluids; breathing in an airborne virus; or by being bitten by an insect.

How do these communicable diseases spread?

How these diseases spread depends on the specific disease or infectious

agent. Some ways in which communicable diseases spread are by:

• physical contact with an infected person, such as through touch

(staphylococcus), sexual intercourse (gonorrhea, HIV), fecal/oral
transmission (hepatitis A), or droplets (influenza, TB)
• contact with a contaminated surface or object (Norwalk virus), food
(salmonella, E. coli), blood (HIV, hepatitis B), or water (cholera);
• bites from insects or animals capable of transmitting the disease
(mosquito: malaria and yellow fever; flea: plague); and
• travel through the air, such as tuberculosis or measles.

Common Communicable Deceases

1. Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your

respiratory system — your nose, throat and
lungs. Influenza is commonly called the flu,
but it's not the same as stomach "flu" viruses
that cause diarrhea and vomiting. Though the
annual influenza vaccine isn't 100 percent
effective, it's still your best defense against the
flu.

For most people, the flu resolves on its own. But sometimes, influenza and
its complications can be deadly. People at higher risk of developing flu
complications include:
 Young children under age 5, and especially those under 6 months
 Adults older than age 65

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  Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
 Pregnant women and women up to two weeks after giving birth
 People with weakened immune systems
 Native Americans
 People who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease,
kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes
 People who are very obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or
higher

Symptoms
At first, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose,
sneezing and sore throat. But colds usually develop slowly, whereas the flu
tends to come on suddenly. And although a cold can be a bother, you
usually feel much worse with the flu.

Common signs and symptoms of the flu When to see

include: a doctor?
 Fever Most people who get
 Aching muscles the flu can treat themselves
 Chills and sweats at home and often don't need
 Headache to see a doctor. If you have
 Dry, persistent cough flu symptoms and are at risk
 Shortness of breath of complications, see your
 Tiredness and weakness doctor right away. Taking
 Runny or stuffy nose antiviral drugs may reduce
 Sore throat the length of your illness and
 Eye pain help prevent more-serious
 Vomiting and diarrhea, but this is more problems.
common in children than adults

Emergency signs and symptoms in

children can include:
 Difficulty breathing
 Blue lips
 Chest pain
 Dehydration
 Severe muscle pain 20
 Seizures
 If you have emergency signs and symptoms of the flu, get medical care right
away. For adults, emergency signs and symptoms can include:
 Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
 Chest pain
 Ongoing dizziness
 Seizures
 Worsening of existing medical conditions
 Severe weakness or muscle pain
 Worsening of existing medical conditions

Causes
Influenza viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the
infection coughs, sneezes or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can
pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard —
and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth.

People with the virus are likely contagious from about a day before
symptoms appear until about five days after they start. Children and people with
weakened immune systems may be contagious for a slightly longer time.

Influenza viruses are constantly changing, with new strains appearing

regularly. If you've had influenza in the past, your body has already made
antibodies to fight that specific strain of the virus. If future influenza viruses are
similar to those you've encountered before, either by having the disease or by
getting vaccinated, those antibodies may prevent infection or lessen its severity.
But antibody levels may decline over time.

Also, antibodies against influenza viruses you've encountered in the past

may not protect you from new influenza strains that can be very different viruses
from what you had before.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of developing the flu or its
complications include:
 Age. Seasonal influenza tends to target children 6 months to 5 years
old, and adults 65 years old or older.
 Living or working conditions. People who live or work in facilities
with many other residents, such as nursing homes or military

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 barracks, are more likely to develop the flu. People who are staying in
the hospital are also at higher risk.
 Weakened immune system. Cancer treatments, anti-rejection
drugs, long-term use of steroids, organ transplant, blood cancer or
HIV/AIDS can weaken your immune system. This can make it easier
for you to catch the flu and may also increase your risk of developing
complications.
 Chronic illnesses. Chronic conditions, including lung diseases such
as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, nervous system diseases,
metabolic disorders, an airway abnormality, and kidney, liver or blood
disease, may increase your risk of influenza complications.
 Race. Native American people may have an increased risk of
influenza complications.
 Aspirin use under age 19. People who are younger than 19 years of
age and receiving long-term aspirin therapy are at risk of developing
Reye's syndrome if infected with influenza.
 Pregnancy. Pregnant women are more likely to develop influenza
complications, particularly in the second and third trimesters. Women
are more likely to develop influenza-related complications up to two
weeks after delivering their babies.
 Obesity. People with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more have an
increased risk of flu complications.

Complications
If you're young and healthy, the flu usually isn't serious. Although you
may feel miserable while you have it, the flu usually goes away in a week or
two with no lasting effects. But children and adults at high risk may develop
complications that may include:
 Pneumonia
 Bronchitis
 Asthma flare-ups
 Heart problems
 Ear infections
 Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Pneumonia is one of the most serious complications. It is a lung

inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with
pus and may become solid. For older adults and people with a chronic illness,
pneumonia can be deadly.

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 Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
annual flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older. The flu vaccine
can reduce your risk of the flu and its severity and lower the risk of having
serious illness from the flu and needing to stay in the hospital.

The influenza vaccine isn't 100% effective, so it's also important to take
several measures to reduce the spread of infection, including:

 Wash your hands. Washing your hands often with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds is an effective way to prevent many common infections.
Or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water aren't available.
 Avoid touching your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
 Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your
elbow. Then wash your hands.
 Clean surfaces. Regularly clean often-touched surfaces to prevent
spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then
your face.
 Avoid crowds. The flu spreads easily wherever people gather — in child
care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and public
transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you reduce
your chances of infection.
Also avoid anyone who is sick. And if you're sick, stay home for at least 24
hours after your fever is gone so that you lessen your chance of infecting others.

2. Chickenpox is an infection caused by the

varicella-zoster virus. It causes an itchy rash
with small, fluid-filled blisters. Chickenpox is
highly contagious to people who haven't had
the disease or been vaccinated against it.
Today, a vaccine is available that protects
children against chickenpox. Routine
vaccination is recommended by the Centers

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 for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The
chickenpox vaccine is a safe, effective way to
prevent chickenpox and its possible
complications.

Symptoms
The itchy blister rash caused by chickenpox infection appears 10 to 21
days after exposure to the virus and usually lasts about five to 10 days. Other
signs and symptoms, which may appear one to two days before the rash,
include:
 Fever
 Loss of appetite
 Headache

Once the chickenpox rash appears, it goes through three phases:

1. Raised pink or red bumps (papules), which break out over several days
2. Small fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), which form in about one day and then
break and leak
3. Crusts and scabs, which cover the broken blisters and take several more
days to heal
 Tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell (malaise)

New bumps continue to appear for several days, so you may have all three
stages of the rash — bumps, blisters and scabbed lesions — at the same time. You
can spread the virus to other people for up to 48 hours before the rash appears,
and the virus remains contagious until all broken blisters have crusted over.

The disease is generally mild in healthy children. In severe cases, the rash
can cover the entire body, and lesions may form in the throat, eyes, and mucous
membranes of the urethra, anus and vagina.

When to see a doctor

If you think you or your child might have chickenpox, consult your doctor.
He or she usually can diagnose chickenpox by examining the rash and considering
other symptoms. Your doctor can also prescribe medications to lessen the severity
of chickenpox and treat complications, if necessary. To avoid infecting others in
the waiting room, call ahead for an appointment and mention that you think you
or your child may have chickenpox.

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 Also, let your doctor know if:
 The rash spreads to one or both eyes.
 The rash gets very red, warm or tender. This could indicate a
secondary bacterial skin infection.
 The rash is accompanied by dizziness, disorientation, rapid heartbeat,
shortness of breath, tremors, loss of muscle coordination, worsening
cough, vomiting, stiff neck or a fever higher than 102 F (38.9 C).
 Anyone in the household has a problem with his or her immune
system or is younger than 6 months.

Causes
Chickenpox infection is caused by a virus. It can spread through direct
contact with the rash. It can also spread when a person with the chickenpox
coughs or sneezes and you inhale the air droplets.

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 Risk factors
Your risk of becoming infected with the varicella-zoster virus that causes
chickenpox is higher if you haven't already had chickenpox or if you haven't
had the chickenpox vaccine. It's especially important for people who work in
child care or school settings to be vaccinated.
Most people who have had chickenpox or have been vaccinated against
chickenpox are immune to chickenpox. If you've been vaccinated and still get
chickenpox, symptoms are often milder, with fewer blisters and mild or no
fever. A few people can get chickenpox more than once, but this is rare.

Complications
Chickenpox is normally a mild disease. But it can be serious and can lead
to complications including:
 Bacterial infections of the skin, soft tissues, bones, joints or
bloodstream (sepsis)
 Dehydration
 Pneumonia
 Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
 Toxic shock syndrome
 Reye's syndrome in children and teenagers who take aspirin during
chickenpox
 Death

Who's at risk?
 People who are at higher risk of chickenpox complications include:
 Newborns and infants whose mothers never had chickenpox or the
vaccine
 Adolescents and adults
 Pregnant women who haven't had chickenpox
 People who smoke
 People whose immune systems are weakened by medication, such as
chemotherapy, or by a disease, such as cancer or HIV
 People who are taking steroid medications for another disease or
condition, such as asthma

Chickenpox and pregnancy

Low birth weight and limb abnormalities are more common among
babies born to women who are infected with chickenpox early in their

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 pregnancy. When a mother is infected with chickenpox in the week before
birth or within a couple of days after giving birth, her baby has a higher risk of
developing a serious, life-threatening infection.
If you're pregnant and not immune to chickenpox, talk to your doctor
about the risks to you and your unborn child.
Chickenpox and shingles
If you've had chickenpox, you're at risk
of a complication called shingles. Shingles is
a viral infection that causes a painful rash. The
varicella-zoster virus remains in your nerve
Chickenpo cells after the skin infection has healed. Many
years later, the virus can reactivate and
resurface as shingles — a painful cluster of
short-lived blisters. The virus is more likely to
reappear in older adults and people who have
weakened immune systems. The pain of
Shingle
shingles can persist long after the blisters
s
disappear. This is called post herpetic
neuralgia and can be severe.

Two shingles vaccines (Zostavax and Shingrix) are available for adults
who have had chickenpox. Shingrix is approved and recommended for people
age 50 and older, including those who've previously received Zostavax.
Zostavax isn't recommended until age 60. Shingrix is preferred over Zostavax.

Prevention
The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine is the best way to prevent chickenpox.
Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate
that the vaccine provides complete protection from the virus for nearly 98
percent of people who receive both of the recommended doses. When the
vaccine doesn't provide complete protection, it significantly lessens the
severity of chickenpox.

The chickenpox vaccine (Varivax) is recommended for:

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  Young children. In the United States, children receive two doses of the
varicella vaccine — the first between ages 12 and 15 months and the second
between ages 4 and 6 years — as part of the routine childhood vaccination
schedule.

The vaccine can be combined with the measles, mumps and rubella
vaccine, but for some children between the ages of 12 and 23 months, the
combination may increase the risk of fever and seizure from the vaccine.
Discuss the pros and cons of combining the vaccines with your child's
doctor.

 Unvaccinated older children. Children ages 7 to 12 years who haven't

been vaccinated should receive two catch-up doses of the varicella vaccine,
given at least three months apart. Children age 13 or older who haven't
been vaccinated should also receive two catch-up doses of the vaccine,
given at least four weeks apart.

 Unvaccinated adults who've never had chickenpox and are at high

risk of exposure. This includes health care workers, teachers, child care
employees, international travelers, military personnel, adults who live with
young children and all women of childbearing age.

Adults who've never had chickenpox or been vaccinated usually receive two
doses of the vaccine, four to eight weeks apart. If you don't remember whether
you've had chickenpox or the vaccine, a blood test can determine your immunity.

The chickenpox vaccine isn't approved for:

 Pregnant women
 People who have weakened immune systems, such as those who are
infected with HIV, or people who are taking immune-suppressing
medications
 People who are allergic to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin

Talk to your doctor if you're unsure about your need for the vaccine. If
you're planning on becoming pregnant, consult with your doctor to make sure
you're up to date on your vaccinations before conceiving a child.

Is it safe and effective?

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 Parents typically wonder whether vaccines are safe. Since the
chickenpox vaccine became available, studies have consistently found it safe
and effective. Side effects are generally mild and include redness, soreness,
swelling and, rarely, small bumps at the site of the shot.

3. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

(AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-
threatening condition caused by the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging
your immune system, HIV interferes with your
body's ability to fight infection and disease.

HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

It can also be spread by contact with infected blood or from mother to child
during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. Without medication, it may take
years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.
There's no cure for HIV/AIDS, but medications can dramatically slow the
progression of the disease. These drugs have reduced AIDS deaths in many
developed nations.
How Do I Know If I Have HIV?
Most people cannot tell that they have been exposed to, or have acquired,
HIV. Initial, or acute, symptoms of HIV infection may show up within two to
four weeks of exposure to HIV, and can include:
 Fever
 Swollen glands
 Sore throat
 Night sweats
 Muscle aches
 Headache
 Extreme tiredness
 Rash

Some people do not have any symptoms or do not notice the symptoms
because they are mild, or they think they have a cold or the flu. After these "flu-
like" symptoms disappear, people living with HIV can go for years without
showing any symptoms. The only way to know for sure if you are living with HIV
is to take an HIV test.

If you have some of the initial or acute symptoms of HIV, it is important that
you be tested for HIV antigen (not just HIV antibody). Antigens are pieces of the

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HIV virus, or viral particles. If an HIV antigen is in your blood, tests can identify
HIV acquisition as soon as two weeks after you have been exposed to the virus.

Antibodies are proteins that your body makes to mark HIV for destruction
by your immune system. The body takes one to three months and occasionally up
to six months to develop these antibodies. This three- to six-month period
between getting HIV and the production of antibodies is called the "window
period." Therefore, tests that detect antibodies are only reliable one to three
months after you have been exposed to HIV.

How Is HIV Spread?

HIV is spread primarily through contact with the following body fluids:
 Blood (including menstrual blood)
 Semen (“cum”) and other male sexual fluids ("pre-cum")
 Vaginal fluids
 Breast milk

For people living with HIV, taking HIV drugs and reducing their viral load
makes these fluids far less likely to transmit HIV to others. This is called HIV
treatment as prevention. If a person living with HIV takes HIV drugs and
maintains an undetectable viral load (too low to be measured with standard tests),
their semen or vaginal fluids will not pass HIV on to their sexual partner. The
most common ways HIV is spread from person to person is through unprotected
sex (no condoms, other barriers, or treatment-as-prevention methods
used), sharing needles used for injecting drugs, hormones or steroids, and mother
to child (during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding).

HIV is not spread through contact with these body fluids:

 Sweat
 Tears
 Saliva (spit)
 Feces (poop)
 Urine (pee)

In other words, you CANNOT get HIV by touching or hugging someone

who is living with HIV, kissing someone living with HIV, or by using a toilet
also used by someone living with HIV.

Is There a Vaccine or Cure for HIV?

There is neither a vaccine nor a cure for HIV. The best way to prevent
HIV is to use prevention methods every time, including safer sex (choosing
low- or no-risk activities, using condoms, taking HIV drugs if you are living
with HIV, or PrEP if you are HIV-negative), and using sterile needles (for
drugs, hormones or tattoos). For more information, see our fact sheet on HIV
Vaccines.

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 4. Measles is a childhood infection
caused by a virus. Once quite
common, measles can now almost
always be prevented with a vaccine.
Also called rubeola, measles can be
serious and even fatal for small
children. While death rates have been
falling worldwide as more children
receive the measles vaccine, the
disease still kills more than 100,000 people a year, most under the
age of 5.

Symptoms
Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to
the virus. Signs and symptoms of measles typically include:
 Fever
 Dry cough
 Runny nose
 Sore throat
 Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside
the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek — also called Koplik's spots. A skin
rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another.
The infection occurs in a sequence of stages during a period of two to three
weeks.
 Infection and incubation. For the first 10 to 14 days after you're infected,
the measles virus incubates. You have no signs or symptoms of measles
during this time.

 Nonspecific signs and symptoms. Measles typically begins with a mild to

moderate fever, often accompanied by a persistent cough, runny nose,
inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis) and sore throat. This relatively mild illness may
last two or three days.

 Acute illness and rash. The rash consists of small red spots, some of which
are slightly raised. Spots and bumps in tight clusters give the skin a splotchy
red appearance. The face breaks out first. Over the next few days, the rash
spreads down the arms and trunk, then over the thighs, lower legs and feet.

31
 At the same time, the fever rises sharply, often as high as 104 to 105.8 F (40
to 41 C). The measles rash gradually recedes, fading first from the face and
last from the thighs and feet.

 Communicable period. A person with measles can spread the virus to

others for about eight days, starting four days before the rash appears and
ending when the rash has been present for four days.

When to see a doctor

Call your doctor if you think you or your child may have been exposed to
measles or if you or your child has a rash resembling measles. Review your
family's vaccination records with your doctor, especially before your children
start elementary school or college and before international travel.

Causes
Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in
the nose and throat of an infected child or adult. Then, when someone with
measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets spray into the air, where
other people can inhale them.

The infected droplets may also land on a surface, where they remain
active and contagious for several hours. You can contract the virus by putting
your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes after touching the
infected surface. About 90% of susceptible people who are exposed to someone
with the virus will be infected.

Risk factors
Risk factors for measles include:
 Being unvaccinated. If you haven't received the vaccine for measles,
you're much more likely to develop the disease.
 Traveling internationally. If you travel to developing countries, where
measles is more common, you're at higher risk of catching the disease.
 Having a vitamin, A deficiency. If you don't have enough vitamin A in
your diet, you're more likely to have more-severe symptoms and
complications.

Complications

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 Complications of measles may include:

 Ear infection. One of the most common complications of measles is a

bacterial ear infection.
 Bronchitis, laryngitis or croup. Measles may lead to inflammation of your
voice box (larynx) or inflammation of the inner walls that line the main air
passageways of your lungs (bronchial tubes).
 Pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common complication of measles. People with
compromised immune systems can develop an especially dangerous variety
of pneumonia that is sometimes fatal.
 Encephalitis. About 1 in 1,000 people with measles develops a
complication called encephalitis. Encephalitis may occur right after
measles, or it might not occur until months later.
 Pregnancy problems. If you're pregnant, you need to take special care to
avoid measles because the disease can cause preterm labor, low birth
weight and maternal death.

Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children
and adults receive the measles vaccine to prevent measles.

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 Measles vaccine in children
To prevent measles in children, doctors usually give infants the first dose of
the vaccine between 12 and 15 months, with the second dose typically given
between ages 4 and 6 years. Keep in mind:
 If you'll be traveling abroad when your child is 6 to 11 months old, talk
with your child's doctor about getting the measles vaccine earlier.
 If your child or teenager didn't get the two doses at the recommended
times, he or she may need two doses of the vaccine four weeks apart.

 Measles vaccine in adults

You may need the measles vaccine if you're an adult who:
 Has an increased risk of measles — such as attending college,
traveling internationally or working in a hospital environment — and
you don't have proof of immunity. Proof of immunity includes written
documentation of your vaccinations or lab confirmation of immunity or
previous illness.
 Was born in 1957 or later and you don't have proof of immunity. Proof
of immunity includes written documentation of your vaccinations or
lab confirmation of immunity or previous illness.

If you're not sure if you need the measles vaccine, talk to your doctor.

Preventing measles during an outbreak or known infection

If someone in your household has measles, take these precautions to
protect vulnerable family and friends:

 Isolation. Because measles is highly contagious from about four days

before to four days after the rash breaks out, people with measles shouldn't
return to activities in which they interact with other people during this
period. It may also be necessary to keep non-immunized people — siblings,
for example — away from the infected person.

 Vaccinate. Be sure that anyone who's at risk of getting the measles who
hasn't been fully vaccinated receives the measles vaccine as soon as
possible. This in clues infants older than 6 months and anyone born in 1957
or later who doesn't have written documentation of being vaccinated, or
who doesn't have evidence of immunity or having had measles in the past.

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 Suggested Reading

Books

Websites

Video Clips
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBkXQ_mBO3Q
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK1_SH3X2ek
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da8iw9hvQX4
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap1FXfy91d4

References:
 https://www.britannica.com/science/disease
 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/
 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257484#lifestyle-tips
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=cardiovascular%20disease
 https://www.webmd.com/cancer/default.htm
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142
 https://www.thewellproject.org/hiv-information/what-are-hiv-aids?
gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx5nGtOSM7gIVzaqWCh1W2weIEAAYASAAEgLwB_D_BwE
 https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054
 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/symptoms-causes/syc-20374857

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