Communicable and non-communicable diseases

• communicable diseases- transferred from one person to another. eg measles, food poisoning and malaria
• Non-communicable diseases - not transferred between people. e.g

  • cancer
  • diabetes
  • genetic diseases and conditions
  • heart disease
  • neurological disorders
• Defective immune system-  weakens the immune system, allowing infections and other health problems to occur more easily e.g HIV infections, can lead to AIDS. It affects the immune system and lead to an increase in infectious diseases.
• Viruses living in cells can be the cause for cancers. For example, the majority of cases of cervix cancer are linked with a virus present in the female reproductive system.
• • The reaction of the immune system to pathogens and other foreign bodies can trigger allergic reactions that lead to skin rashes and asthma. For instance, severe respiratory infections in babies can lead to asthma in later childhood. Severe physical ill health can lead to depression and other types of mental illness.
• Communicable diseases are spread by pathogens
• Pathogens are microorganisms that cause infectious diseases
• Types of pathogens :  viruses, bacteria, fungi, protits
• Some pathogens spread in the air. e.g in water droplets (influenza)
• Other pathogens spread directly in water. e.g cholera
• Some pathogens are spread by direct contact between individuals. e.g HIV
• One way to reduce the spread of pathogens is by washing hands before eating and after using toilet
• another way to reduce the spread of pathogens is by providing people with clean drinking water.
• another way to reduce the spread of pathogens is by using a condom during sexual intercourse which reduces the spread of HIV
• Incase of some highly infectious diseases such as ebola, isolation is needed to prevent the spread of the pathogen (illness)
• Lastly, one way to reduce the spread of pathogens is by vaccination