Communicable Diseases

  • Communicable diseases, also known as infectious diseases, are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. They can be spread directly or indirectly from person to person.

  • Pathogens can be transmitted in various ways such as through the air, by touch, through bodily fluids or by vectors like insects.

  • Common types of communicable diseases include the flu, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and measles.

  • Hygiene plays a big part in preventing the spread of communicable diseases. Regular hand washing, using clean water and safe food handling practises can reduce the risk of infection.

  • Vaccinations are helpful in preventing many types of infectious diseases. They work by stimulating the immune system to fight off specific pathogens.

  • Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. However, they are ineffective against viral infections. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, where bacteria evolve and become resistant to the medicines traditionally used to kill them.

  • The body has several natural defences against communicable diseases. These include the skin, which acts as a physical barrier; the immune system, which fights off pathogens; and the production of mucus and stomach acid, which can kill bacteria.

  • If a person is infected with a pathogen, their immune system will respond. The pathogen will be recognised as foreign, engulfed by white blood cells, and destroyed. The immune system will remember the pathogen and will be able to respond more quickly if it encounters the pathogen again.

  • Diseases can be endemic (regularly found among particular people or in a certain area), epidemic (widespread outbreak in a community at a particular time) or pandemic (an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people).

  • Health organisations such as the World Health Organisation monitor and respond to disease outbreaks in an effort to control their spread and impact. They track the spread of diseases, coordinate international response efforts and provide advice and resources to affected areas.