Infectious Respiratory Diseases

1
Infectious Respiratory Diseases

• Communicable Diseases Unit
• Lesson 2

2
Five Types

• Common cold
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Strep Throat
• Tuberculosis

3
The Common Cold

• Over 200 viruses can cause a cold
• Virus that infects the nose
• High levels of stress can increase chance of
  catching a cold
• Exposed to cold weather/getting chilled does not
  cause a cold!
• Takes about 2-7 days to show symptoms

4
The Common Cold

• Transmission
• Direct and indirect contact
• Symptoms
• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Sneezing
• Headache
• Cough/sore throat
• Last 2-14 days

5
The Common Cold

• Treatment
• Rest and fluids
• Over-the-counter meds
• Prevention
• Good hygiene
• Avoid close contact with infected people
• Rest, fluids, and good diet

6
Influenza (The Flu)

• Infection of the nose, throat, and lungs
• Can cause complications (elderly, babies, people
  with chronic diseases)
• Constantly changing (harder to form antibodies)

7
Influenza (The Flu)

• Transmission
• Direct and indirect contact
• Can spread rapidly in crowded places
• Symptoms
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches
• Others

8
Influenza (The Flu)

• Treatment
• Rest and fluids
• Over-the-counter meds
• Children and teens should not take aspirin if
  have the flu can lead to Reyes Syndrome
• Prevention
• Avoid contact with infected people
• Good hygiene
• Flu shots

9
Pneumonia

• Infection in the lungs caused by bacteria,
  viruses, or other pathogens
• Mild to severe and fatal
• Transmission
• Direct and indirect contact
• Untreated respiratory infections

10
Pneumonia

• Symptoms
• Cough with mucus
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Shallow/trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Others

11
Pneumonia

• Treatment
• Antibiotics treat bacterial pneumonia
• Viral may need hospital care
• Prevention
• Avoid contact with infected people
• Good hygiene
• Prompt treatment of respiratory infections

12
Strep Throat

• Bacterial infection in throat
• Can lead to rheumatic fever
• Transmission
• Direct and indirect contact
• Symptoms
• Fever
• Sever sore throat
• Red throat with sores

13
Strep Throat

• Treatment
• Antibiotics
• Rest and fluids
• Prevention
• Avoid contact with infected people
• Good hygiene

14
Tuberculosis

• Bacterial infection in lungs
• People with weakened immune systems more likely
  to contract (elderly, HIV infected, homeless,
  malnourished)
• Transmission
• Direct and indirect contact (airborne)

15
Tuberculosis

• Symptoms
• Mild cough and fever
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Night sweats
• Coughing up blood
• Treatment
• Antibiotics (some pathogens are resistant)

16
Tuberculosis

• Prevention
• Avoid contact with infected people
• Rooms with good ventilation reduce the risk of
  spreading TB