Disease
Prevention and
Control
Quarter 3
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Communicable diseases are
diseases that do not transfer from
one person to another.
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Infectious diseases are also called
communicable diseases.
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Bacteria, fungi, and virus are
pathogens which cause diseases to
the host.
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The most common reservoir of
pathogens is the human body.
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The links of the chain of infection
can’t be broken.
Infection
An invasion of microorganism
into the body that are capable
of producing a disease.
Chain of Infection
There are Six (6) links in the chain of
infection:
PATHOGEN
It is an organism with the ability to
cause diseases.
Ex. Bacteria, fungi, virus, protozoa,
parasitic worms, rickettsiae
RESERVOI
R
It is a place within which
microorganisms can thrive and
produce.
The most common reservoir is the
human body.
PORTAL OF
EXIT
It provides a way for a microorganism
to leave the reservoir.
Through the nose, mouth, and body
feces.
MODE OF
TRANSMISSION
It is the method by which the
organism moves from one host to
another.
Direct contact, indirect contact, air-
borne, food-borne, water-borne,
vector-borne.
PORTAL OF
ENTRY
It is an opening, allowing the
microorganism to enter the host.
Body orifices, mucus membranes,
breaks in the skin.
They may enter through:
Respiratory System (inhalation) Gastrointestinal System (ingestion)
They may enter through:
Urinary and Reproductive Tracts
Breaks in the skin
(sexual contact)
SUSCEPTIBLE
HOST
It is a person who cannot resist a
microorganism invading its body.
INCUBATION
STAGE
It is when a person acquires the
pathogen until the appearance of the
first sign. “silent stage”
PRODROMAL
STAGE
It is when there are non-specific
signs and symptoms appearing.
“headache, runny nose, fever.”
ILLNESS or
CLINICAL STAGE
It is the time when illness reaches its
highest point of development.
“severe aches, vomiting, high fever,
sore throat, sinus congestion.”
RECOVERY or
CONVALESCENCE
STAGE
This is the time when recovery
seems complete although the
disease is still communicable.
COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES
• A disease that spread from one
person to another.
• It is a disease that is caused or
pathogens. Pathogens can be
viruses, bacteria, fungi,
helminths, to name a few.
• It is a disease that can be
transmitted.
TYPES OF PATHOGENS
BACTERIA
● Bacteria are one-celled microscopic organisms that rank among the most
widespread of living things. Most bacteria do not cause diseases. All
bacteria must have food supply, as well as suitable temperature, moisture,
and darkness.
BACTERIA
● Some bacteria digest non-living food materials such
as meat and milk. These organisms are called
saphrophytes.
● If the food supply is a living plant or animal, the
microorganism is called a parasite. The plant or the
animal that the parasite feeds on is called a host.
RICKETTSIAE
● Organisms that are considered intermediate, somewhere between
a virus and a bacterium.
● Most of them grow in the intestinal tracts of insects, which carry
them to their human hosts.
VIRUSES
● Small, simple life-like forms from one-half to 100 the size of a
bacteria.
● These organisms are the human body’s worst enemies. All viruses are
parasites.
● When a virus enters the body, it attaches itself to a cell and releases
its nucleic acid into the host cell.
FUNGI
● Simple organisms that cannot make their
own food. Many live on dead animals,
insects, and leaves.
● Fungi are therefore saphropytes. They
prefer dark, and damp environment.
● Two of the most common fungi are yeast
and mushrooms.
● Fungi cause infections of the scalp, such
as ring worm, and of the feet, such as
athlete’s foot.
PROTOZOA
● Single-celled organisms that are
larger than bacteria and have more
complex cellular structure.
● Most of these are harmless and they
are most common in tropical areas
that have poor sanitation.
● They cause Malaria, African
sleeping sickness, and amoebic
dysentery, a severe intestinal
infection.
PARASITIC WORMS
● A worm is classified as a parasite. It is a disease-causing organism that lives in
humans or other animals and derives its nourishment from its host.
● Lice are examples of parasites that live on humans; bacteria and viruses are examples
of parasites that live either in humans or in animals; parasitic worms, also called
helminths live in humans.
Common Helminths:
● Roundworms – hatch and live in the intestines. The eggs usually enter the
body through contaminated water, food, fingers placed in the mouth, and hands
that have touched a contaminated object.
● Symptoms of their presence include fatigue, weight loss, irritability, poor
appetite, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Common Helminths:
● Pinworms – also called seatworms and threadworms. They hatch and live
primarily in the intestines. The eggs usually enter the body through the anus,
nose, or mouth through inhaled air or fingers that have touched a contaminated
object.
Common Helminths:
● Tapeworms – tapeworms live in the intestines. The eggs usually enter the body
via raw or uncooked beef. Symptoms of their presence are usually absent.
However, some patients experience abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, and
diarrhea.
Common Helminths:
● Flukes – they live in different locations in the body, including the intestines,
bladder, rectum, liver, spleen, lungs and veins. Flukes first mature inside fresh
water snails. After leaving the snails, they can enter the body of humans by
penetrating the skin of persons swimming, bathing, or washing in water where
flukes are active.
3 Levels of Preventing Diseases
● Primary Prevention – activities are done to prevent one from
having the disease. This includes getting immunized, eating a
healthy diet, and getting enough sleep.
● Secondary Prevention – activities are done to prevent further
damages when the disease has already started. This includes
prompt diagnosis and treatment.
● Tertiary Prevention – the focus is on rehabilitating the sick
person so as to prevent long-term complications of the disease.
