Common Communicable

Diseases in the
GRADE 8 MAPEH – QUARTER 3
Philippines
 Contents

01 02
What are the common How can
communicable diseases communicable
diseases be prevented
in the Philippines? and controlled?

03
What are Emerging and Re-emerging
Communicable
Diseases?
 What’s In?
In the previous lesson, you learned the four
phases of infection and the leading causes of
morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. In
your notebook or on a sheet of paper, list
down ten communicable diseases that you
know then tell something about these
communicable diseases.
What are the common communicable diseases
in the Philippines?

People are always exposed to communicable diseases.

Factors like environment, climate, immunity response, and
human activities contribute to how communicable
diseases affect individuals and communities.
 Acute Respiratory Infection
Acute respiratory infection is an infection of the
upper respiratory tract from the nasal sinuses
down to the vocal cords or the lower respiratory
system from the vocal cords down to the lungs. It
usually affects children but can also affect adults.
Acute Respiratory Infection

Signs and symptoms: runny nose, cough,

difficulty breathing, headache and dizziness, sore
throat, nasal congestion, congestion of the lungs,
high fever, body aches, and fatigue.
 Acute Respiratory Infection
Preventive and Control Measures:
Vaccinations for MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), pertussis,
and flu lower the risk of getting an acute respiratory infection.
It also helps to practice hygiene like frequent handwashing and
sneeze coughing etiquette.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, and mouth to prevent the entry
of bacteria and viruses in the body.
Disinfect fomites. Fomites are inanimate objects such as the
doorknob, kitchen utensils, hairbrush, clothes, towels, and other
things we use every day, which may have been contaminated or
exposed to pathogens.
Use alcohol-based or chlorine-based solutions to disinfect items
at home, school or anywhere you are
 Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a contagious disease caused by a
virus. Chickenpox can be life-threatening to
babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and
people
with a weak immune system. Infection usually
lasts for seven days but scars from blisters take
much longer to heal.
 Chickenpox
Signs and symptoms: headache, fever, itchy
rashes, blisters, and fatigue.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Vaccinate against chickenpox.
• Stay away from people with chickenpox.
• Practice hand hygiene and sanitation methods.
• If sick, isolate yourself for more than a week.
 Chickenpox
Myths and Misconceptions:
• Taking a bath complicates the disease.
• The more blisters appear, the better.
• Certain foods, especially fish, can cause the disease to
worsen

Facts:
• Taking a bath helps relieve discomfort brought about
by itchiness.
• There is no known study that the appearance of more
blisters means it is better for persons with
chickenpox. This has not been theoretically and
clinically proven.
• It helps to eat balanced nutritious meals and drink
 Cholera
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by
bacteria that lives in contaminated food and
water. People can get the disease by eating and
drinking Contaminated food and water. Street
foods not properly prepared, cooked, and served
are likely to be contaminated with bacteria and
can make people sick from cholera.
 Cholera
Signs and symptoms: Nausea (dizziness
followed by vomiting), diarrhea, dehydration,
fatigue, sunken eyes, and extreme thirst.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Practice hand hygiene.
• Drink only clean, safe water.
• Wash fruits and vegetables properly.
• Cook food completely and avoid raw meat
• Vaccinate against cholera.
 Dengue
Dengue fever is a vector-borne infection caused
by a virus carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
It is common in tropical countries such as the
Philippines. Vector-borne infection is a
communicable disease transmitted by vectors.
Vectors are animals that carry specific diseases.
 Dengue
Signs and symptoms: High fever, headache,
vomiting, muscle and joint pains,
rashes, and in late stages of the infection-
bleeding from the mouth and nose.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Destroy mosquito-breeding grounds such as stagnant water,
old tires, etc.
• Install screens in houses and sleep inside mosquito nets.
• Do not kill biological agents such as frogs, lizards, and
spiders.
• Apply insecticides and larvicides to reduce mosquito
population.
 Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be caused by bacteria, virus, and
sometimes unknown reasons. Nevertheless, when
diarrhea sets in, normal body function is affected
and risks of getting sick is high. Diarrhea is
characterized by watery and loose stools.
 Diarrhea
Signs and symptoms: Stomachache, abdominal
cramps, headache, frequent trips to the toilet,
watery, loose, and foul stools, weight loss,
dehydration, vomiting, blood on stools, and fever

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Practice hand hygiene.
• Sanitize hands frequently.
• Drink only clean, safe water.
• Wash fruits and vegetables properly.
• Cook food completely and avoid raw meat.
• Buy drinks and food only from reliable sources.
 Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious communicable disease
caused by bacteria. It can be spread from person
through nasal (nose) and oral (mouth) droplets
such as coughing, sneezing, talking, and touching
infected skin areas such as skin ulcers (sores or
wounds caused by an infection)
 Diphtheria
Signs and symptoms: fever, sore throat,
swollen glands in the neck, and difficulty
breathing. Severe infection leads to heart failure,
nerve damages, kidney damages, paralysis, and
death.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Vaccination program for babies, teenagers, and
adults.
• Antibiotic treatment
• Strong and consistent public information and
education campaign
 Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus
called Hepatitis A Virus (HAV). It is highly
infectious and can be spread through blood and
feces. Close
contact with an infected person and eating
contaminated food and drinks can make one get
Hepatitis A.
 Hepatitis A
Signs and symptoms: fever, sore throat, swollen
glands in the neck, and difficulty breathing. Severe
infection leads to heart failure, nerve damages, kidney
damages, paralysis, and death.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Practice hand hygiene especially after using the toilet and before
preparing food and eating.
• Avoid buying and eating food and drink from unreliable sources.
• Drink only clean potable water.
• Boil water if there is no available clean potable water.
• Avoid eating raw food, especially shellfish and meat.
• Heated food should be hot to the touch and eat right away
• Vaccination against Hepatitis A.
 HIV/AIDS
HIV or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the
immune system. If symptoms are left undetected and
untreated, the disease progresses into Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
 HIV/AIDS
Preventive and Control Measures:
• Practice a monogamous sexual relationship.
• Get vaccinated for common diseases.
• Do not abuse alcohol and drugs.
• Get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections (STI)
 HIV/AIDS
Myths and Misconceptions:
• HIV/AIDS can be transmitted from kissing.
• Only males can get the infection.
• Mosquitoes can carry the infection.
• Hugging and sleeping beside an infected person can transmit
HIV/AIDS.
• Swimming together in spas and pools can transmit the infection.
• Toilets and other items can harbor HIV/AIDS.

Facts:
• HIV/AIDS cannot be transmitted through the
following: kissing, hugging, and staying in bed
together; from mosquito bites, swimming and
bathing together, and from items used by an HIV
positive person. Though more males get infected,
females are also susceptible to HIV/AIDS infection.
 Influenza
Influenza or
commonly known
as flu is an
infectious
respiratory
disease. It is
caused by the
influenza viruses
A, B, and C.
 Influenza
Preventive and Control Measures:
• Practice hand hygiene management. Use hand
sanitizers and 70% alcohol if water and soap is not
readily available.
• Cover nose and mouth when somebody sneezes and
coughs.
• Use face masks when in crowded places.
• Distance self from suspected influenza-infected
persons.
• Quarantine self from family, friends, and classmates
when sick with influenza.
• Vaccinate against influenza and pneumonia yearly.
 Leprosy
Leprosy, also
called Hansen's
Disease is an
infection of the
skin, nerves, eyes,
and nasal lining. It
is caused by a
bacterium which
attacks the body
slowly
 Leprosy
Signs and symptoms: muscle weakness,
numbness of affected body parts feet, (hands legs, and
feet), hair loss, bleeding of the nose, eye damages
leading to blindness, skin lesions (abnormal cut or break
in skin).

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Avoid continuous close contact with known leprosy
patients.
• Convince individuals with leprosy to seek early
diagnosis and treatment.
• Immediate and yearly examinations of family
members at least five years after last known contact
with an infected person.
 Malaria
Malaria is a vector-bone infection caused by a
parasitic protozoan. A protozoan is a minute
single-celled organism. The parasite lives inside a
mosquito and is transferred to human through
bites.
 Malaria
Signs and symptoms: Fever, chills, flu-like illness,
headache, muscle pain, fatigue nausea, diarrhea, and jaundice.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Effective screening of houses in malaria-infested areas
• Use of mosquito nets applied with mosquito repellants or insecticides.
• Public information and education drive especially in malaria-infested
communities.
• Application of anti-mosquito repellent lotions when trekking or hiking
mountains, hills, forests, and swamps
• Wear light, loose-fitting trousers or pants and long-sleeve shirts at
night
instead of shorts and sandos.
• Strengthening monitoring and surveillance system through online
malaria
information system.
• Inquire about anti-malarial medicines before going to regions known for
 Measles
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by
a virus. The virus enters the body through the
eyes, nose, and oral cavity. It spreads through
direct contact and through nasal and oral droplets
when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or
talks.
 Malaria
Signs and symptoms: High fever, runny nose, cough
and sneeze, watery eyes, rashes all over the body

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Vaccinate babies aged 12 to 15 months old with MMR
(measles, mumps, rubella) and booster shots at the age of
four to six years old. Teenagers and adults only need the first
shot for protection.
• Vaccinate yourself before traveling to other places.
• Stay away from persons with measles for at least a week.
• Isolate self and family if there is an outbreak of measles in
the community.
• Stay in well-ventilated spaces as the Virus can float in the air
for up to 2 hours.
 Rabies
Rabies is a zoonotic disease transmitted by an
infected animal, usually a cat, dog, or bat, and
transferred to a human through bites, licks, and
scratches.
 Rabies
Signs and symptoms: Difficulty swallowing, fear of water
and breeze of air, headache, nausea, fever, itchiness around the wounds,
anxiety, and depression, excessive salivation, confusion, hallucination, and
paralysis leading to death.
Preventive and Control Measures:
• Vaccinate pet dogs and cats against rabies.
• Be a responsible pet owner. Give clean food, water, and shelter to pets.
• Confine dogs and cats within your property to avoid getting the
infection from other animals.
• If bitten by a stray dog or cat, immediately wash the wound with soap
and running water and consult a doctor.
• In the hospital, isolate the personal things of the patient. Do not
consume the
• patient's left-over food and drinks.
• Get a pre-exposure vaccine if traveling or hiking.
 Rabies
Myths and Misconceptions:
• Rabies can only be transmitted by dog and cat bites.
• The use of traditional medicines like using garlic,
deer horn, and magical black stones treat rabies.

Facts:
• Common carriers of rabies are dogs and cats but
other mammals like bats, rats, horses, and cows can
also transmit infection. It is not only through bites
that the disease is transferred. It can also
transmitted from licks and scratches of rabid
animals.
 Sore Eyes
Sore eyes or conjunctivitis is a highly contagious
inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes. It is
the white membranous film that covers the
whites and the inner parts of the eyelids. It can be
caused by bacteria, virus, or allergic reactions.
 Sore Eyes
Signs and symptoms: Redness of the eyes, itchy
and stingy sensation around the eyes, and sticky eye
discharge which hardens overnight, blurry eyesight.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Practice hand hygiene frequently.
• Avoid touching the eyes with bare hands.
• Sanitize hands and items before touching and
holding them.
• Never share personal belongings such as a face
towel, handkerchief, and other items.
 Sore Eyes
Myths and Misconceptions:
• Looking straight in the eyes of an infected
person can infect you.
• Staying close to an infected person can infect
you.

Facts:
• Sore eyes can only be transmitted through
dirty hands and fomites like towels,
handkerchiefs, blankets, hats , and more.
 Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a
bacterium. The bacteria usually attack the lungs
but can also damage other parts of the body such
as the brain, kidneys, and spine. TB spreads
through the air when a person with TB of the
lungs coughs, sneezes, or talks.
 Tuberculosis
Signs and symptoms: Severe cough lasting for
three or more weeks, sputum with mucus and blood,
fever, loss of appetite, drastic weight loss, fatigue, and
night sweats.

Preventive and Control Measures:

• Practice hand hygiene frequently.
• Vaccinate against tuberculosis.
• Sanitize hands and items before touching and holding them.
• Never share personal belongings such as a face towel, handkerchief,
and other items.
• Consult a doctor for early diagnosis and treatment.
• If living with a patient, make yourself and the rest of the family
available for contract tracing.
• Open windows and use fans to allow air to circulate in the home.
• Do not skip medications and attend regular check-ups.
 Tuberculosis
Myths and Misconceptions:
• TB is hereditary.
• TB is incurable.
• TB is infectious.

Facts:
• TB is not hereditary. TB of the lungs is transmitted
through the air and anyone in close contact can get
the disease.
• TB can be cured by anti-TB drugs. Medication may
last until nine months.
• Not all TB are infectious. Infectious TB are mostly
lung infections.
How can communicable diseases be prevented
and controlled?

The best and most effective way to prevent and control

the spread of communicable diseases is to practice
healthy habits every day.
 Medical recommendations and preventions

Preventions and Recommendations

• Practice hand hygiene frequently.
• Proper handling and preparing of food.
• Clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces an
items.
• Catch that sneeze and cough.
• Eat healthy and live healthy.
• Never share personal belongings.
• Stay away from wild animals.
• Sleep early and have enough rest.
• Support the immunization program.
• Stay home.
What are Emerging and Re-emerging
Communicable Diseases?

According to the Department of Health (DOH), emerging

communicable diseases are unknown or novel
communicable diseases that have occurred and spread in
the community.
What are Emerging and Re-emerging
Communicable Diseases?

On the other hand, re- emerging communicable diseases

are diseases, which had been controlled and eradicated
for some time but have reappeared to become a threat
anew to certain portions of the population.
Emerging Re-emerging
Communicable Communicable
Diseases Diseases
• HIV/AIDS • Poliomyelitis
• Severe acute • Influenza
respiratory syndrome • Measles
(SARS) • Dengue Fever
• COVID-19 • Malaria
• Ebola • Tuberculosis
• Lyme Disease
• Zika Virus Disease
The following summarizes the contributing factors of
emerging and re-emerging of communicable
diseases:

1. Population increase especially in highly urban areas.

2. Ease in international and domestic travel including the
increased deployment of overseas workers.
3. Socio-economic factors such as poverty, education,
health and safety, and social support system.
4. Environmental factors that include vulnerability to
disasters, climate change, deforestation, and increased
human activities and urbanization.
The following summarizes to prevent and control
outbreaks of communicable diseases:

1. Increased education and advocacy campaigns;

2. Stronger policy development for healthcare and medical research;

3. Advanced capacity-building of medical and allied health personnel;

4. Resource management and quick mobilization of funds and medical

personnel;

5. Enhanced disease surveillance, monitoring, and information

management systems; and nationwide coordination of efforts among

hospitals and concerned government agencies.

 Activity
Direction: On a separate sheet of paper, create a table of
information about three communicable diseases not mentioned
in this module. Follow the template below.
NAME OF COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE

DISEASE:

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:

PREVENTIVE AND CONTROL

MEASURES:
Instruments Equipment Protection and security
MISCONCEPTIONS, MYTHS, AND
BELIEFS IS THERE ARE ANY:
 Activity
Direction: One preventive and control measure lower the
incidence if not totally eradicate communicable diseases is the
immunization program of the government. Suggest three to five
ways to convince parents of the importance of immunization
among children. Use a separate sheet of paper.

Instruments Equipment Protection and security

THANK YOU
FOR
LISTENING!