Communicable Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Communicable diseases are those that can be passed from one person to another. They may be transmitted by droplets of respiratory secretions.

Communicable diseases can also be transmitted through contact with the blood, bodily fluids, and tissues of a person who is infected with a disease. The most common communicable diseases are measles, influenza, syphilis and HIV/AIDS.

Communicable diseases are illnesses that can be passed from one person to another. It is important to know the symptoms of communicable diseases and how they are transmitted.

This article is going to talk about the symptoms of communicable diseases, and how they manifest themselves in the body.

If you experience any of these symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately.

What are Communicable Diseases?

Communicable diseases are diseases that can be passed from one person to another. The term “communicable” is used to describe an illness that can be passed from one person or animal to another. It’s not always easy to know what might be contagious, but the following are some common communicable diseases: influenza, HIV/AIDS, Ebola virus disease, SARS coronavirus.

How they manifest themselves in the body?

Communicable diseases are caused by infections that can be spread from one person to another.

Some of the most common communicable diseases are:

Bacterial Infections:

Bacteria are microscopic organisms that live in water, soil and on our skin. When these bacteria enter the body through the mouth, nose or breaks in the skin, they can cause an infection.

Viral Infections:

Viruses are microscopic organisms that can only grow inside cells of living animals or plants. Viral infections also enter the body through a break in the skin or by coming into contact with mucous membranes such as those found in your mouth and nose.

Parasitic Infections:

Parasites are tiny organisms that live inside a host and feed off their blood or other tissues. Parasites can enter the body through mouth, nose or breaks in the skin.

Symptoms

The symptoms of communicable diseases can be as varied as the list of communicable diseases themselves. Some may have no symptoms at all while others may show symptoms such as fever, headache, rash or sore throat.

Communicable diseases are illnesses that can be passed from one person to another. The term is often used to refer to infectious diseases that are transmitted by air, water or other means. There are many different types of communicable diseases, and they affect people in different ways.

Symptoms of Communicable Diseases:

  • Fever: A fever is a symptom that some people get when they have a communicable disease such as influenza or chickenpox.
  • Coughing: A cough is a symptom that some people get when they have a communicable disease such as cold or pneumonia. It’s caused by mucus being pushed out of the lungs when you breathe out.
  • Sore throat: A sore throat is a symptom that some people get when they have a communicable disease such as strep throat or laryngitis.
  • Coughing up thick mucus: A person with a bacterial infection may cough up a lot of mucus.
  • Sores on the skin: Some communicable diseases can cause sores to form on the skin and blisters.

Types

Communicable diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from one organism to another.

There are three types of communicable diseases: bacterial, viral, and parasitic.

  • Bacterial diseases are caused by bacteria and include pneumonia, tuberculosis, tetanus, and diphtheria.
  • Viral diseases include influenza, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis A&B, measles and chicken pox.
  • Parasitic diseases are caused by parasites like malaria or worms that live in the human body.

Common Communicable Diseases

Communicable diseases are diseases that are transferred from one person to another. These diseases can be transmitted through close contact, droplets, or other bodily fluids. They can also be transmitted through the air when someone coughs or sneezes.

The most common communicable diseases in the world are:

HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus destroys cells of the immune system, making it hard for the body to fight off infections.

There is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS, but there are treatments that can help control the virus and prevent AIDS from developing.

There are many symptoms of HIV/AIDS, the most common being fever and a rash. Other symptoms include:

  • Fever or unexplained fever-like illness
  • A skin rash with any of these characteristics:
    • Small red bumps (papules) or larger flat areas (plaques) that may appear on the palms of hands and soles of feet
    • Tender red or purple spots (purpura), often in the groin area
    • Small red spots on the face
    • Large patches that involve trunk and limbs
    • Raised bumps that may look similar to insect bites (kaposi sarcoma)
  • Sore throat
  • Enlarged lymph nodes in neck or groin area, or swollen glands in neck

Coronavirus:

Coronavirus is a type of virus that is contagious. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, the virus can be spread to others.

The following are some of the symptoms of coronavirus:

  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chest pain
  • Breathing problems

Rhinoviruses:

Rhinoviruses are a group of viruses that cause the common cold. The name rhinovirus is derived from the Greek words rhino meaning nose and virus meaning poison. These viruses belong to the enterovirus family, which also includes poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and echovirus.

Rhinoviruses are transmitted by direct contact with droplets from an infected person’s nose or throat. They can also be transmitted indirectly by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

Symptoms of Rhinovirus include:

  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Body aches

Influenza:

Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. Influenza is mostly spread from person to person through droplets from coughing, sneezing, and even talking.

The Influenza virus has many strains and can be categorized into three types: A, B, and C. The Influenza A virus is the most common cause of influenza in humans. There are several subtypes of Influenza A viruses which can be categorized based on their different surface proteins or antigens: H1N1, H3N2, H5N1, etc.

People who have been infected with the virus often experience

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Body aches

They may also have a runny nose and some may experience vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms usually last for 2-7 days before they go away on their own.

Tuberculosis:

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can also affect other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys, and spine.

The symptoms of tuberculosis include:

  • A high fever
  • Persistent cough with blood-tainted sputum
  • Weight loss
  • Night sweats

The disease is spread through airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing and most often affects people who are in close contact with someone with TB.

Ringworm:

Ringworm is a fungal infection that is caused by a fungus called “dermatophyte”. It can be spread through physical contact with an infected person or animal, or by touching contaminated items such as clothes, bedding, and furniture. Ringworm can also be spread by sharing personal items like combs and brushes.

The fungus needs moist skin to live on and grow so it usually starts on the feet or hands if you have been in contact with soil or water. If you don’t wash your hands after playing outside, it’s possible for ringworm to get on your hands and then spread to other parts of your body like your face, scalp, or groin area.

The symptoms of ringworm on the skin are red, round patches with a raised, scaly border that can be either dry or moist. Ringworm can also occur in hair and nails.

Plasmodium:

The plasmodium moves by using finger-like protrusions called pseudopodia. The plasmodium can also break into smaller pieces which can then form new plasmodia.

The plasmodium is the asexual reproductive structure of the malaria parasite, “Plasmodium falciparum”. It is made up of many small cells called trophozoites.

Malaria is an infectious disease that can be deadly if not treated. It is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection that causes

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • flu

Malaria symptoms are difficult to identify in children because they don’t show flu-like symptoms and can be confused with other diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria is important for preventing complications and death.

The best way to prevent malaria is by protecting yourself against mosquito bites.

Lyme Disease:

Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and can be transmitted from an infected blacklegged tick. The bacteria can enter the skin through a bite or sometimes through direct contact with an infected animal.

People with Lyme disease often experience

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain

If left untreated, they may also develop more serious symptoms like numbness or tingling in their limbs, heart palpitations, and joint pain.

The most common symptom of Lyme disease is a bulls-eye rash that appears at the site of the tick bite between 3-30 days after infection.

Causes

Communicable diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted from one person or animal to another. These diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

There are two types of communicable diseases: those that are transmitted by direct contact with an infected person or animal (known as “direct contact” diseases) and those that are transmitted indirectly by contaminated food or water (known as “indirect contact” diseases).

Communicable diseases are caused by a variety of factors and they can be prevented by following the appropriate precautions.

  1. The cause of communicable diseases is usually a result of an infected person spreading disease to another person.
  2. The infection may be passed on through physical contact, such as shaking hands or kissing, or through contact with contaminated objects such as cups, door handles, or toys.
  3. The most common communicable diseases we hear about are viruses that cause influenza and colds.

Communicable diseases can also be caused by bacteria and parasites that live in the body; these are called “opportunistic infections.” These opportunistic infections may happen when the immune system is weakened because of illness or certain medications.

How to Treat and Prevent Transmission?

Communicable diseases are caused by micro-organisms that are transmitted from one person to another. They can spread through the air, water, or on surfaces.

Infectious diseases can be treated with antibiotics and vaccines. Antibiotics kill infectious agents in the body, while vaccines prevent them from infecting a person. The treatment for communicable diseases is to prevent the disease from spreading.

It is important to note that the transmission of communicable diseases can be prevented by following some simple guidelines.

  • The first and most important guideline is to wash your hands regularly with soap and water. This will remove most of the germs from your hands.
  • The second guideline is to avoid close contact with people who are infected or have been infected with a communicable disease.
  • The third guideline is to stay away from sick animals, such as cats, dogs, monkeys, rats, bats and birds that may carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

The treatment for communicable diseases is to prevent the disease from spreading. There are many ways of preventing the spread of communicable diseases, such as washing hands, wearing masks and gloves, and staying home when sick.

Summary

Communicable diseases are those that can be spread from person to person. The pathogens that cause these diseases may spread in different ways for example, through the air, contact with contaminated substances or surfaces, or from animal and insect bites.

Some communicable diseases only cause mild symptoms which may go unnoticed and can often disappear without treatment. Others need to be treated in order to prevent them from becoming more serious.

There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of catching & transmitting disease-causing pathogens. They include receiving available vaccinations, practicing regular handwashing, & maintaining good hygiene at home.