Infectious (Communicable) Diseases

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Infectious (Communicable) Diseases

• Mrs. Kunz
• Health

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Infectious Diseases (Communicable Diseases)

• What is an infectious disease?
• Any disease that is caused by an agent that has
  invaded the body.
• The agent PATHOGEN

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Infectious Diseases

• Pathogens are contagious!
• Spread from person to person
• From food or water
• From animals
• From environment

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Types of Pathogens

• Bacteria
• Cant be seen (unless using a microscope)
• Single-celled organism
• Bacteria live everywhere!
• You have more than 300 different kinds of
  bacteria living in your mouth right now.
• Most bacteria are harmless and are actually
  helpful (create vitamins in intestines)
• Some cause sickness and give off poisons

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Types of Pathogens (continued)

• Viruses
• Smaller than bacteria
• Tiny particles made up of genetic material w/a
  protein coating
• The genetic material contains instructions to
  create more viruses
• Viruses survive and replicate only inside living
  cells
• They reproduce by taking control of body cells
  jump from one to another
• Colds, flu, measles, AIDS, and acute respiratory
  dis.

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Types of Pathogens (Continued)

• Fungi
• Organisms that absorb nutrients from other living
  or dead organisms.
• Mushrooms in your salad are fungi but do not
  cause harm like others do.
• Athletes foot is a fungus that lives and feeds
  off of ones feet causing them to itch and burn.
• A fungus, not a worm, is responsible for the
  scaly, circular rash known as ringworm.

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Types of Pathogens (Continued)

• Protozoa
• Single-celled organisms, larger and more complex
  than bacteria
• Account for diseases that are leading causes of
  death throughout parts of the world such as
  Malaria
• Malaria kills approximately 1 million people a
  year in tropical countries

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Types of Pathogens (Continued)

• Parasites
• Living organisms that feed off of a human/animal
  host.
• Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa's account
  for almost all the infectious diseases in the
  U.S.
• Animal parasites cause many diseases around the
  world.
• Head lice, tapeworms, hookworms and certain
  roundworms

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How are They Spread?

• Person to person
• When sneeze/cough you send thousands of tiny
  drops of saliva and mucus into the air and remain
  there for awhile
• Anyone who breathes in these or touches something
  touched by these pathogens can get infected.
• Sneezing/coughing into your hand the best way?

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How are They Spread? Continued

• Food and water
• Food borne diseases are often spread when
  pathogens from an infected person or animal
  contaminated food.
• Thats why you always wash your hands before and
  after preparing food!
• In the US it is relatively safe to drink tap
  water but not from streams or lakes unless
  purified (boiling, iodine tablets, or by using a
  filtering system)

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How are They Spread? Continued

• Environment
• Pathogens are present on most objects around you.
  Although many pathogens cannot live long outside
  of the body some do survive longer (phone,
  money, desks, etc.)
• Animals
• Can get diseases from pets or wild animals
  (petting, animal bites, etc.)
• Mosquitoes can spread them as well

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Your turn to teach

• Groups of 4 (one group of 5)
• Use a visual aid (words and/or pictures)
• Every member is responsible for a portion of the
  material
• You must know it and present it
• May use notes but no reading directly from the
  paper!
• Talk to Mrs. Kunz about what topic you will be
  teaching

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Presentation Helps

• Know the information
• Make eye contact with your audience
• Avoid comfort words
• Speak clearly and loudly