COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Diseases which spread from a sick person to a healthy person through food, water, air, insect bites or by direct contact are called communicable diseases. They are caused by microorganisms ( pathogens ) like bacteria, fungi virus and protozoa.

Some common types are given below

1.    Air borne Diseases : They are also called droplet infection as they spread through air. A diseased person carries germs of these diseases in his nasal passage, throat and mouth. Some examples are cold, flu, tuberculosis, measles and diphtheria.

2.   Water borne Diseases: They spread through contaminated water. Examples are typhoid, dysentery, cholera and intestinal infections.

3.   Contagious Diseases: These diseases are transmitted by direct contact with the patient. Examples are conjunctivitis and scabies. Sharing things like drinking glasses, towels and combs can also spread the infection.

4.   Vector borne Diseases: Diseases caused by microbes carrying organisms are called vector borne diseases. The insects and animals that carry disease causing germs are called vectors, such as flies, mosquitoes, fleas, pigs, dogs, ticks, mites etc.

Some of the diseases and their vectors are listed below :

DISEASE	VECTOR	PATHOGEN ( Disease Causing Agent )
Malaria	Anopheles mosquito	Protozoa
Dengue	Acdes mosquito	Virus ( DENV )
Typhoid	Housefly	Bacterium
Amoebic Dysentry	Housefly	Protozoan
Plague	Rat Flea	Bacterium
Rabies	Infect Dog	Virus