Common Infections and Diseases include the following:


1.      CHOLERA 

2.      MALARIA

3.      TYPHOID

4.      TUBERCULOSIS (T.B)

5.      MENINGITIS

6.      AMOEBIC DYSENTERY (AMOEBIASIS)

7.      PLAGUE

8.      TRYPANOSOMIASIS (SLEEPING SICKNESS)

9.      BILHARZIA (SCHISTOSOMIASIS)

10.  ATHLETE‟S FOOT

11.  GONORRHOEA

12.  SYPHILIS

13.  CHLAMYDIA

14.  GENITAL HERPES

15.  GENITAL WARTS

16.  HEPATITIS B

17.  TRICHOMONIASIS

18.  CANDIDIASIS

 


The Causes, Symptoms, Mode of Transmission and Effects of Common Infections and Diseases 

 

CHOLERA

     Cause: 

It is caused by a bacterium known as Vibrio cholerae


Symptoms

1.      Severe watery diarrhea and vomiting

2.      Body weakness

3.      Fast and weak pulse

4.      Low blood pressure

5.      Wrinkled skin and sunken eyes due to dehydration

6.      Rapid loss of weight

 

Transmission 

Cholera is transmitted through:

a.       Food or water borne material contaminated with feces from infected person

b.      Handling of contaminated objects

c.       Vectors e.g. flies moving from human feces to food.

 


MALARIA

Cause:

Malaria is caused by a protozoan called plasmodium.


Signs and symptoms

a.       High fever. Fever may be continuous, irregular or twice daily.

b.      Vomiting

c.       Lack of appetite

d.      General body weakness

e.       Joint pains

 

Transmission

Malaria is transmitted by a female anopheles mosquito. The mosquito sucks blood containing plasmodium from the infected person and introduces them into the body of a health person. In rare cases malaria can be transmitted through blood transfusion from the infected person to a health person.

 


TYPHOID

Cause: It is caused by a bacterium known as Salmonella typhus. The bacteria damage the intestinal wall and other parts of the body like gall bladder, spleen and bone marrow.

 

Signs and symptoms

a.       Mild fever

b.      Slight abdominal pains

c.       Diarrhea

d.      Vomiting

e.       Ulceration and rupture of intestine

 

Transmission

The disease is spread through 

a.       Contaminated water and food 

b.      Handling of contaminated objects 

c.       Vectors of the disease e.g. houseflies

 


TUBERCULOSIS (T.B)

Cause: 

T.B is caused by bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can attack the lungs or any part of the body and destroy tissues.

 

Signs and symptoms

a.       Loss of weight

b.      Coughing

c.       Fever

d.      Chest pain

e.       Blood in the sputum

 

 Transmission

a.       Through droplet infection

b.      Through drinking milk from infected cattle

c.       T.B is common in overcrowded areas with poor sanitation.