Disease

A disease is the functional or physically change from a noraml state that affects the health of a person by causing disability or discomfort.The following are the conditions that could lead to the development of disease in an individual.
→ Infection caused by disease-causing microbes.
→ Lack of balanced diet.
→ poor lifestyle and unhealthy habits.
→ Malfunctioning of one or more body parts or organs.
The prevention and treatment of diseases ca be considered in two groups for their better understanding. They are communicable and non- communicable disease.

Communicable Disease

Communicable diseases are those diseases that spread from one person to another.Healthy persons must be protected from people with communicable diseases.Diseases spread through contaminated air, water,food or vectors (insects and other animals).

a) Diseases caused by Bacteria

Communicable diseases like tuberculosis,Cholera and typhoid,are caused by bacteria.These diseases spread through air, water and some other organisms.

1. Tuberculosis

• 

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculae and spreads from one person to another through air, spitting, prolonged contact and sharing materials of the patient.The symptoms are fever, weight loss,chronic cough, bloody spitting and difficulty in breathing.

Prevention and treatment

> BCG Vaccination
> Giving special attention to the patient
> Regular medication like DOT.

2.Chloera

• 

Prevention and treatment

> Good hygenic practices like washing hands before eating.
> Avoid eating uncovered food from street vendors.
> Drinking boiled water
> Getting vaccinated against Chloera

3.Typhoid

• 

Typhoid is caused by salmonella typhi and spreads by contaminated food and water.The symptoms are anorexia, headache,rashes on abdomen, dysentery and high fever up to 104°F

• 

Prevention and treatment

> Drinking boiled clean water
> Proper disposal of sewage
> Vaccination

b. Diseases caused by Virus

Viral diseases are extremely widespread infections caused by many type of viruses.Some diseases caused by viruses are hepatitis chickenpox and radies.

1. Hepatitis

• 

Hepatitis is one of the most dangerous and fatal diseases caused by Hepatitis virus A,B,C,D,E.Its mode of transmission is contaminated water, sharing of needles and blood transfusion.The symptoms of hepatitis is loss of appetite (anorexia), vomiting,eyes and urine turning to yellow colour.

Prevention and treatment

> Drinking boiled water
> proper cleaning of hands

2.Chickenpox

• 

Chickenpox also known as varicella is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella zoaster virus.This disease spreads through air and contact with an infected person.Its symptoms are appearance of rashes on the whole body,fever, headache and tiredness .

Prevention and treatment

> The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine is the best way to prevent chickenpox
> special attention should be given to the infected persons.

3.Rabies

Rabies is a fatal disease which is transmitted by the bite of the infected dog, rabbit, monkey,cat,etc.The virus present in the saliva of dog enters the brain via neurons.The symptoms of rabies are hydrophobia (extreme fear for water),fever for 2-12 weeks and exaggerations in behaviour.

Prevention and treatment

> In early stages rabies is very difficult to defect.
> After an animal is bitten it usually takes two to twelve weeks to show any symptoms and it may take as long as two years also.
>Fatality can be prevented by timely vaccination before the onset of symptoms.

• 

Non-communicable diseases

Non-communicable diseases do not spread from person to person.They are caused by other factors.Therefore ,it is important to know which diseases are communicable and which are not.They are never caused by germs, bacteria,or other living organisms that infect the body.Antibiotics or medicines that fight against germs do not help to cure non-communicable diseases.Some of the non-communicable diseases are explained below.

a. Wearing our of body parts

Rheumatism,heart attack, epileptic seizures,stroke, migraine headache, cataract and cancer.

b. External harmful agents entering the body

Allergies, asthma, poisons, snakebite, cough from smoking, stomach ulcer, alcoholism.

c. Lack of trace elements in the body

Anemia,pellagra,night blindness and xerophthamia,goiter and hypothyroidism.

d. Malnutrition

Nutritious food is needed for a person to grow well,work hard, and stay healthy.Many common sickness are caused by malnutrition.