Health / Unit 7: Disease Prevention
7.1 Communicable Diseases
Notes
A communicable disease (infectious disease) is caused by a pathogen and can spread from one living thing to another.
- Pathogens: bacteria (strep throat), viruses (colds, flu, COVID-19, measles), fungi (athlete's foot) and parasites (head lice, malaria).
- Spread by: direct contact, droplets from coughs and sneezes, contaminated food or water, touching surfaces then your face, insect bites, and body fluids.
- Antibiotics treat bacterial infections only. They do not work on viruses. Misusing them can create resistant bacteria.
- Symptoms often include fever, cough, tiredness and aches. Rest, fluids and a doctor's advice help recovery.
- Staying home when sick protects others.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are communicable diseases spread through intimate contact. Avoiding that contact is the surest prevention, and testing and treatment are available from a doctor or clinic.
Practice
Which type of pathogen is treated by antibiotics?
Antibiotics kill bacteria and do not work against viruses.
Which is a communicable disease?
The flu is spread by a virus.
A student with a fever and a cough keeps going to school because they don't want to miss class. What is the best advice?
Staying home when sick protects others.
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