P.E./Health Education
Communicable disease
1. Influenza
– also known as the flu — is a contagious viral infection that attacks your respiratory system
Signs and Symptoms
– coughing
– runny or stuffy nose
– sneezing
– sore throat
– fever
– headache
– fatigue
– chills
– body aches
Risk Factors
– chronic lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis
– heart disease
– chronic kidney disease
– diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorder
– morbid obesity
– severe anemia (including sickle cell anemia)
– diseases (HIV, AIDS) or treatments (steroids, chemotherapy) that suppress immunity
– liver disorders
– children and adolescents who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Prevention
– washing your hands regularly
– avoiding large crowds, specifically during a flu outbreak
– covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
– staying home if you develop a fever and for at least 24 hours after it goes away
Causes
– The flu is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. These viruses spread when
people with flu cough, sneeze or talk, sending droplets with the virus into the air and potentially into
the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. You can also get flu by touching a surface or object that
has flu virus on it and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose.
2. Measles
– Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost
always be prevented with a vaccine.
Signs and Symptoms
– Fever
– Dry cough
– Runny nose
– Sore throat
– Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
– Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner
lining of the cheek — also called Koplik's spots
– A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another
Risk Factor
– Being unvaccinated. If you haven't received the vaccine for measles, you're much more likely to
develop the disease.
, – Traveling internationally. If you travel to developing countries, where measles is more common, you're
at higher risk of catching the disease.
– Having a vitamin A deficiency. If you don't have enough vitamin A in your diet, you're more likely to
have more-severe symptoms and complications.
Prevention
– Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles. Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97
percent effective at preventing measles infection.
– If you’re susceptible to infection:
– Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and before
touching your face, mouth, or nose.
– Don’t share personal items with people who may be ill. This can include things like eating utensils,
drinking glasses, and toothbrushes.
– Avoid coming into contact with people who are sick
– If you’re sick with measles:
– Stay home from work or school and other public places until you aren’t contagious. This is four days
after you first develop the measles rash.
– Avoid contact with people who may be vulnerable to infection, such as infants too young to be
vaccinated and immunocompromised people.
– Cover your nose and mouth if you need to cough or sneeze. Dispose of all used tissues promptly. If you
don’t have a tissue available, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand.
– Be sure to wash your hands frequently and to disinfect any surfaces or objects that you touch
frequently.
Causes
– Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an
infected child or adult. Then, when someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets
spray into the air, where other people can inhale them.
3. Tuberculosis
– Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects your lungs. The bacteria
that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the
air via coughs and sneezes.
Signs and Symptoms
– Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
– Coughing up blood
– Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
– Unintentional weight loss
– Fatigue
– Fever
– Night sweats
– Chills
– Loss of appetite
Risk Factor
– The chances of getting infected by the TB germ are highest for people that are in close contact with
others who are infected. This includes:
– Family and friends of a person with infectious TB disease
– People from parts of the world with high rates of TB, including India and parts of Asian and Africa.
– People in groups with high rates of TB transmission, including the homeless persons, injection drug
users, and people living with HIV infection
Communicable disease
1. Influenza
– also known as the flu — is a contagious viral infection that attacks your respiratory system
Signs and Symptoms
– coughing
– runny or stuffy nose
– sneezing
– sore throat
– fever
– headache
– fatigue
– chills
– body aches
Risk Factors
– chronic lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis
– heart disease
– chronic kidney disease
– diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorder
– morbid obesity
– severe anemia (including sickle cell anemia)
– diseases (HIV, AIDS) or treatments (steroids, chemotherapy) that suppress immunity
– liver disorders
– children and adolescents who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Prevention
– washing your hands regularly
– avoiding large crowds, specifically during a flu outbreak
– covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
– staying home if you develop a fever and for at least 24 hours after it goes away
Causes
– The flu is caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. These viruses spread when
people with flu cough, sneeze or talk, sending droplets with the virus into the air and potentially into
the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. You can also get flu by touching a surface or object that
has flu virus on it and then touching your own mouth, eyes or nose.
2. Measles
– Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Once quite common, measles can now almost
always be prevented with a vaccine.
Signs and Symptoms
– Fever
– Dry cough
– Runny nose
– Sore throat
– Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
– Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner
lining of the cheek — also called Koplik's spots
– A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another
Risk Factor
– Being unvaccinated. If you haven't received the vaccine for measles, you're much more likely to
develop the disease.
, – Traveling internationally. If you travel to developing countries, where measles is more common, you're
at higher risk of catching the disease.
– Having a vitamin A deficiency. If you don't have enough vitamin A in your diet, you're more likely to
have more-severe symptoms and complications.
Prevention
– Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles. Two doses of the measles vaccine are 97
percent effective at preventing measles infection.
– If you’re susceptible to infection:
– Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands before eating, after using the bathroom, and before
touching your face, mouth, or nose.
– Don’t share personal items with people who may be ill. This can include things like eating utensils,
drinking glasses, and toothbrushes.
– Avoid coming into contact with people who are sick
– If you’re sick with measles:
– Stay home from work or school and other public places until you aren’t contagious. This is four days
after you first develop the measles rash.
– Avoid contact with people who may be vulnerable to infection, such as infants too young to be
vaccinated and immunocompromised people.
– Cover your nose and mouth if you need to cough or sneeze. Dispose of all used tissues promptly. If you
don’t have a tissue available, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand.
– Be sure to wash your hands frequently and to disinfect any surfaces or objects that you touch
frequently.
Causes
– Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an
infected child or adult. Then, when someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets
spray into the air, where other people can inhale them.
3. Tuberculosis
– Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects your lungs. The bacteria
that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the
air via coughs and sneezes.
Signs and Symptoms
– Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
– Coughing up blood
– Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
– Unintentional weight loss
– Fatigue
– Fever
– Night sweats
– Chills
– Loss of appetite
Risk Factor
– The chances of getting infected by the TB germ are highest for people that are in close contact with
others who are infected. This includes:
– Family and friends of a person with infectious TB disease
– People from parts of the world with high rates of TB, including India and parts of Asian and Africa.
– People in groups with high rates of TB transmission, including the homeless persons, injection drug
users, and people living with HIV infection
