Unit III: Disease Prevention and Control (Communicable) - yeast and mushrooms are examples of fungi.

- Disease prevention and control is a very important health concern because it affects the quality - they can invade mainly deep tissues of the hair, nails, and skin.

of people’s lives. Communicable diseases not only threaten the sick person but also his/her family - fungi can cause infections of the scalp, such as ringworm and of the feet,

and the society in general. such as athlete’s foot.

- Diseases caused by the direct or indirect spread of pathogens from one person to another are

called communicable diseases.

Three levels of preventing diseases:

5. PROTOZOA
1. Primary prevention- activities are done to prevent one from having the diseases. This includes
Are single-celled organisms that are larger than bacteria and have a more
getting immunized, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. -
complex cellular structure.

They are most common in tropical areas that have poor sanitation.
-
they cause malaria, African sleeping sickness, amoebic dysentery, a severe
-
intestinal infection.

2. Secondary prevention-activities are done to prevent further damages when the disease has

already started. This includes prompt diagnosis and treatment.

6. PARASITIC WORMS

worms are classified as a parasite.

-
parasitic worms are also called (helminths- is derived from a Greek word
3. Tertiary prevention- the focus is on rehabilitating the sick person so as to prevent long-term -
“helmins” which means worm) live on humans.
complications of the disease.
Helminthology- is the study of parasitic worms. Helminth eggs contaminate food,
-
water, air feces, pets, wild animals and objects such as toilet seats and door

handles.

Common Helminths:
What is pathogen?
1.Roundworm- hatch and live in the intestines. The usually enter the body
Pathogen is a disease causing organism.
• through contaminated water, food, fingers placed in the mouth, and hands that
Pathogens infect or invade the body and attack each cells and tissues.
• have touched a contaminated object.
Some bacteria, rickettsiae, fungi, protozoa, certain types of worms, and all the
• Symptoms of their presence:
viruses are the pathogens.
-fatigue - poor appetite
Types of pathogen
- weight loss - abdominal pain
1. BACTERIA
- irritability - diarrhea
are one celled microscopic organism that rank among the most widespread of living
•
things.

Most bacteria do not cause disease.

•
In order to live, all bacteria must have a food supply, as well as suitable
• 2. PINWORMS (also called seat worms and threadworms)-
temperature, moisture, and darkness.
-Hatch and live primarily in the intestines.
Saprophytes- these bacteria digest non-living food materials such as milk and meat.
• - the eggs usually enter the body through the anus, nose, or mouth through
Parasites- these microorganism’s food supply are living plants or animals.
• inhaled air or fingers that have touched a contaminated object.
Ex. Lactobacilli, found in gastro-intestinal tract, produce lactic acid from simple
Symptoms of their presence:
carbohydrates.
- anal itching - pale skin
Coliform bacilli, found in intestines, help break down
- stomach discomfort
carbohydrates and combat disease-causing bacteria.
- if enters vagina, discharge and itching may develop

2. RICKETTSIAE 3. TAPEWORMS
-organisms that are considered intermediate, that is, somewhere between - lives in intestines
a virus and a bacterium. - the eggs usually enter the body via raw or uncooked beef.
- they grow in the intestinal tracts of insects, which carry them to their Symptoms of their presence are usually absent. However, some patients
human hosts. experience abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, and diarrhea.
- requires living cells in order to grow and multiply.

- lice, mites, and ticks carry rickettsiae to humans.

-Typhus fever, a rocky mountain spotted fever, is a disease caused by

these organisms. 4. FLUKES

- live in different locations in the body, including intestines, bladder, rectum, liver,

spleen, lungs, and veins.

- first mature inside fresh water snails. After living the snails, they can enter the

3. VIRUSES body of humans by penetrating the skin of persons swimming, bathing, or

- are small, simple life-like forms from one-half to 100 size of a bacteria. washing in water where flukes are active.

- human body’s worst enemies. Symptoms of their presence:

- all viruses are parasites. - rashes - experience itching

- it attaches itself to a cell and releases its nucleic acid into the host cell. - muscle aches - coughing

Ex. Rabies virus, Viral hepatitis, mumps, smallpox, chicken pox, shingles - chill l- fever

and warts.

4. FUNGI

- are simple organisms that cannot make their own food.

- many live on dead animals, insects, and leaves, fungi are saprophytes.

- they prefer dark and damp environments.