Understanding Common Communicable Diseases: Symptoms and Prevention
A communicable disease is one that spreads from one person or animal to another as a result of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. They transmit through contact with bodily fluids, insect bites, contaminated surfaces, water, and foods, or through the air. The most common carrier of communicable diseases is housefly. People sometimes refer to communicable diseases as “infectious” or “transmissible” diseases. Infectious diseases are caused by microscopic germs (such as bacteria or viruses) that get into the body and cause problems. Some — but not all — infectious diseases spread directly from one person to another and are said to be contagious. Contagious diseases (such as the flu, colds, or strep throat) spread from person to person in several ways. One way is through direct physical contact, like touching or kissing a person who has the infection. Another way is when an infectious microbe travels through the air after someone nearby sneezes or coughs. Sometimes people get contagious diseases by touching or using something an infected person has touched or used — like sharing a straw with someone or stepping into the shower after someone who has athlete's foot. And sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are spread through all types of sex — oral, anal, or vaginal.[1]
Major Challenges
Communicable diseases can cause epidemics and pandemics which have the potential to overwhelm the capacity of communities; with serious health and socioeconomic consequences. Children bear a major burden of ill health, with infectious and parasitic diseases the main killers. Adults experience substantial premature mortality. A number of environmental factors influence the spread of communicable diseases that are prone to cause epidemics include: water, sanitation, food and air quality. The main challenges in the eradication of infectious diseases are : susceptible build-up, waning of immunity, increase in the age of infection, non-compliance of individuals with control measures, pathogen change and emergence of resistance as a result of intensified efforts all become increasingly important during the final stages of eradication programmes.
New diseases such as HIV and new forms of influenza have renewed the challenges before the world public health community. Emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of common organisms due to overuse of antibiotics and lack of vaccines for many dangerous microorganisms poses problems to humanity. This stresses the need for new vaccines, effective antibiotics and strengthened environmental control measures. Tragically long delays in adopting "new" and cost-effective vaccines cause hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year in developing and mid-level developed countries. Gains are being made in control of many tropical diseases, but malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases remain enormous global problems. Research and acquisition of new knowledge, risk communication, application of currently available means and fair distribution will be great challenges to public health in the coming decades.
The spread of communicable diseases is directly related to access to adequate, affordable healthcare, access to vaccines and medicines, clean water and nutritious foods, and sanitation. Poverty, poor education, low health knowledge, poor infrastructure, geographic factors, life style, and environmental factors (i.e., limited access to resources such as potable water and sanitation) have been identified as primary factors contributing to the high incidence of infectious diseases mainly among women in developing countries. Poorer countries more vulnerable to the spread of infectious disease. The impact of this varies from one region to another. Resource poor countries suffer the most due to an already high disease burden, as well as an acute shortage of qualified health personnel to manage, control and contain the crisis/spread.[2]
Communicable Diseases Are A Public Health Concern
Preventing and controlling the spread of disease is at the heart of much public health work. From the coronavirus-cased COVID-19 to influenza, Lyme disease, malaria and Ebola, outbreaks of infectious diseases can have an extraordinary impact on human health. For many infectious diseases, women are at higher risk and have more severe course of illness than men for many reasons, including biologic differences, social inequities, and restrictive cultural norms.
As of Nov-2023 statistics ,the world's deadliest infectious diseases have had human costs:
. COVID-19: 1.24 million.
. Tuberculosis: 1.13 million
· HIV/AIDS: 630,000.
· Malaria: 620,000.
Children aged under 5 years accounted for 77% (487.000) of all malaria deaths worldwide in 2020. In addition to the high proportion of deaths and suffering that they cause, communicable diseases hinder social and economic development and can pose significant threats to international health security, as illustrated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of the high burden of communicable diseases, SDG Target 3.3 aims at: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases. the SDGs include a specific target to end the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and neglected tropical diseases(NTDs) and to combat hepatitis and other communicable diseases.
Personal Measures To Prevent Transmission[3]
Wash Hands Often
Handle & Prepare Food Safely: Food can carry germs. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces often when preparing any food, especially raw meat. Always wash fruits and vegetables. Cook and keep foods at proper temperatures. Don't leave food out - refrigerate promptly.
Clean & Disinfect Commonly Used Surfaces: Germs can live on surfaces. Cleaning with soap and water is usually enough. However, one should disinfect bathroom and kitchen regularly with disinfectant, bleach solution, or rubbing alcohol.
Cough & Sneeze Into Your Sleeve
Don't Share Personal Items: that can't be disinfected, like toothbrushes and razors, or sharing towels between washes. Needles should never be shared, should only be used once, and then thrown away properly.
Get Vaccinated: There are vaccines for children and adults designed to provide protection against many communicable diseases.
Stay Home When Sick
Avoid Touching Wild Animals: Be cautious around wild animals
Taking antimalarial medications when traveling where there is a malaria risk
Check for ticks and other parasites
Specific Treatment:
Patients require different treatment depending on disease process and clinical presentation. [3]
· Viral Infections: vaccines are a highly effective method for preventing specific viral infections. There are several different types of vaccines. If a person already has a virus, they may require antiviral medications to keep the virus under control.
· Bacterial Infections: a person who has a bacterial infection may require a course of antibiotics to help control the infection. These medications can help to kill bacteria or slow them down so the immune system can counteract them. However, many bacteria are developing a resistance to antibiotics, which poses a major health risk. A person should only ever take antibiotics on a medical recommendation.
· Fungal Infections: a severe or chronic fungal infection may require antifungal medications both tropical or injections.
Prevention
Communicable Diseases And Related Public Health Prevention Measures[3]
Countries Need A Thorough Healthcare System To Deal With Communicable Diseases Through Elaborate Disease Prevention Programs[3]
· Chronic Hepatitis Immunization Program: For adults and children to get all needed immunizations to protect
· Office of AIDS Administration: To reduce the rates of new HIV infections; increase the number of residents who know their HIV status earlier through HIV testing; and linking individuals who are positive into care.
· Perinatal Hepatitis B Program: To work with hepatitis B positive mothers and medical providers to protect newborns from hepatitis B.
· Sexually Transmitted Disease Control: To increase individual, community, and health care provider awareness of the prevalence and impact of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with a goal to reduce STDs especially the highest at-risk populations – adolescents and young adults - through education, prevention and community awareness. STD screening, testing and education are also provided.
· Reporting Of Cases of Communicable Disease: is important in the planning and evaluation of disease prevention and control programs, in the assurance of appropriate medical therapy, and in the detection of common-source outbreaks. Many countries’ law mandates healthcare providers and laboratories to report over 80 diseases or conditions to their local health department. Some examples of the reportable communicable diseases include Hepatitis A, B & C, influenza, measles, and salmonella and other food borne illnesses.
Communicable diseases will undoubtedly persist as permanent and main threats to humanity in the future, especially due to increased longevity. One reason among many others is certainly, the continuous co-evolution of pathogens with the host immunity, especially in the case of opportunistic and zoonotic pathogens, which is enabling pathogen transmission between different mammalian or animal hosts. The research community must address and cope with the challenges ahead. A key problem in infectious diseases research is a dramatic lack of public, private as well as corporate funding in many areas. Most infectious diseases are contagious, thus posing global public health threats, which are especially amplified by demographic changes, migration and travel. Epidemiological and public health data must be available in real time to allow for global exchange to ensure and maintain preparedness at all times. This will be the only effective way to rapidly recognize and locate disease outbreaks and to identify associated pathogens. Moreover, emergency pandemic plans must be in place in every country, and perpetuated, updated and maintained by health authorities or national centers independent of political partisanship.
References
1. Folch E, Hernandez I, Barragan M, Franco-Paredes C. Infectious diseases, non-zero-sum thinking, and the developing world. Am J Med Sci 2003;326:66–72
2. Shiffman J, Beer T, Wu Y. The emergence of global disease control priorities. Health Policy Plan 2002;17:225–234.
3. Smith R, Woodward D, Acharya A, Beaglehole R, Drager N.Communicable disease control: a ‘Global Public Good’ perspective. Health Policy Plan 2004;19:271–278