Communicable and non-communicable diseases

• What are communicable diseases?

  Can spread from person to person e.g. measles
• What are communicable diseases spread by?

  Pathogens such as bacteria or viruses.
• What are non-communicable diseases?

  Cannot be spread from person to person e.g. coronary heart diseases
• What is health?

  The state of physical and mental well-being.
• What can ill health be caused by?

  Communicable and non-communicable diseases, and also by poor diet, high levels of stress and other life-situations e.g. working with harmful chemicals.
• What is Tuberculosis?

  It is a communicable lung disease and it can be fatal. In most people, the immune system can fight off TB. However, some people have a defective immune system, for example, people with HIV. People with a defective immune system are much more likely to suffer from infectious diseases.
• What is HPV?

  It is extremely common and in most people, it is essentially harmless. However in some people, HPV can cause cervical cancer. Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV which infects the cells of the cervix
• How can some diseases be triggered?

  By the immune system e.g. allergies such as asthma or dermatitis. In these cases, the body is infected with a pathogen which the immune system fights off but leaves the person with an allergy.
• What can a physical illness trigger?

  A mental illness. For example, people with arthritis can find it very difficult to move and lead a normal life. In certain cases, it make them feel isolated and depressed.