Communicable/ Non Communicable Disease

Communicable diseases

Contagious diseases where the transfer of disease takes place from one person to another, or from animal to person, either directly or indirectly.

Direct contact transmission

Transmission of disease that includes contact with infected blood, feces, or other body fluids.

Indirect contact transmission

Transmission of disease through intermediary sources such as the air, water, food, or insects.

Acute

A term used to describe diseases that develop quickly.

Sexually transmitted disease

A disease that includes ulcers in genital areas, smelly greenish or grayish discharge, and lesions located in sexual organs and other body parts once spread.

Bacteria

Single celled organisms, larger than viruses, that cause whooping cough, gonorrhea, and tuberculosis, and can be treated with antibiotics.

Viruses

The smallest organism responsible for causing illnesses such as measles, hepatitis, and AIDS.

Protozoa

Single cell organisms that cause diseases such as malaria and dysentery.

Fungi

Disease-causing agents responsible for causing conditions such as ringworm and athlete's foot.

Pathogen

The disease-causing microorganisms in the body.

Infection

The body’s reaction to disease-causing microorganisms.

Three modes of communicable disease spread

Airborne transmission, direct contact (including contact with blood), and contaminated food or water.

Five methods to prevent disease transmission

Universal precautions, good hygiene including cooking utensils, killing the vector (e.g., insects), vaccinations, and quarantine or isolation.

Communicable diseases

Diseases that spread from one person to another directly or indirectly through wind, water, air, insects, or physical contact, and are highly infectious.

Non-communicable diseases

Diseases that are non-contagious and do not spread from person to person, caused by factors such as allergy, long illness, malnutrition, abnormalities in cell proliferation, lifestyle, environment, or inheritance.

Disease

An unhealthy condition of the body or mind which affects the functions of tissue, organs, and the entire body.

Infection

The invasion of pathogens, harming the body and its cells.

Acute disease

A disease type that develops and progresses quickly, characteristic of communicable diseases.

Chronic disease

A disease type that develops slowly and lasts for a long period in the body, characteristic of non-communicable diseases.

Vectors

Agents that play a major role in transmitting and spreading communicable diseases from one person to another.

Conventional methods

The treatment approaches used to treat communicable diseases.

Conservative or surgical treatment

The management methods applied to non-communicable diseases, where surgery is used in critical conditions.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)

A virus that attacks the body's immune system; if not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)

The most severe stage (Stage 3) of HIV infection, occurring when the immune system is badly damaged and vulnerable to opportunistic infections.

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)

The chimpanzee version of the immunodeficiency virus that was likely transmitted to humans in Central Africa when hunting chimpanzees for meat and contacting infected blood.

Acute HIV Infection (Stage 1)

The initial stage occurring $2$ to $4\text{ weeks}$ after infection, where individuals have a large amount of HIV in their blood, are very contagious, and often experience flu-like symptoms.

Chronic HIV Infection (Stage 2)

A phase also known as asymptomatic HIV infection or clinical latency, where HIV reproduces at very low levels and may last a decade or longer without medicine.

Clinical Latency

Another term for chronic HIV infection (Stage 2), during which the virus is active but reproduces at very low levels and people often do not feel sick.

Viral Load

The amount of HIV present in the blood, which increases near the end of chronic HIV infection and during AIDS.

Opportunistic Infections

Severe illnesses that occur with increasing frequency in individuals with badly damaged immune systems, such as those diagnosed with AIDS.

CD4 Cell Count Threshold for AIDS

A laboratory measurement dropping below $200\text{ cells/mm}$, which criteria (alongside specific opportunistic infections) is used to diagnose AIDS.

Diagnostic Tests for Acute HIV Infection

The only diagnostic modalities capable of detecting acute infection: antigen/antibody tests or nucleic acid tests (NATs).

Symptoms of Acute HIV Infection

Flu-like responses that may include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth ulcers.

Cancer

A disease characterized by the rapid and uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells

Tumor

A mass of abnormal cells

Benign tumors

Non cancerous

Malignant

Cancerous

Metastasis

When Cancer cells get into the bloodstream and move to other parts of the body

Risk factor

Anything that increases the likelihood of developing a medical disorder or disease

Biopsy

The removal of tissue from a person for examination

Ways to treat Cancer

Surgical removal, Radiation, Chemotherapy, Remission

Ways to reduce risk factors

Avoid tobacco and alcohol, Limit sun exposure, Exercise and be active, Good nutrition, SELF Examinations

Heart Disease

Any condition that weakens the heart and blood vessels making them less functional.

Arteriosclerosis

A condition in which arteries harden and become rigid, restricting blood flow.

Atherosclerosis

A condition in which fatty substances build-up on artery walls, restricting blood flow.

Hypertension

High blood pressure; a condition where the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels is consistently too high.

Stroke

A serious condition where an artery to the brain breaks or becomes blocked, cutting off oxygen supply to the brain, killing brain tissue.

Heart Attack

A serious condition where blood flow to part of the heart is restricted due to a blockage, killing cardiac cells.

Heart Disease Prevention

Healthy food choices, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight and BMI (Body Mass Index), managing stress, and staying tobacco free.

Warning Signs of a Stroke

Drooping face, numbness in arms, slurred speech, headache, blurred vision, and confusion.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Chest pain, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, jaw, neck or back pain, discomfort in shoulder or arm, and shortness of breath.

Cholesterol

A waxy, fat like substance that is found in all cells of the body and travels through the bloodstream.

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

Known as "Bad Cholesterol"; a substance traveling through the bloodstream that is only bad when in surplus.

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)

Known as "Good cholesterol"; collects LDLs and takes them to the liver to be processed.

Normal LDL to HDL Ratio

A proportion of $4\text{ LDLs} / 1\text{ HDL}$, reflecting that individuals naturally have more LDL than HDL.

Diabetes

A disease that prevents the body from successfully converting food to energy.

Insulin

A protein made in the pancreas that travels with glucose and must be present at the cell wall to unlock the membrane and allow glucose in to provide energy.

Pancreas

The organ in the body where the protein insulin is produced.

Type 1 Diabetes

The type of diabetes most common in children, in which the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that make insulin, rendering them useless and resulting in no insulin production.

Type 2 Diabetes

A condition where body cells cannot effectively use insulin produced by the pancreas, often occurring when excess fat from obesity prevents insulin from unlocking the cell membrane.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Clinical signs associated with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, consisting of urination, thirst, fatigue, slow healing wounds, thrush or genital itching, and blurred vision.

Diabetes Management

Care practices that include a healthy eating plan, weight management, insulin injections or an insulin pump to monitor levels, and remaining under the care of a physician.

Asthma

A condition in which the small airways in the lungs narrow, making breathing difficult.

Common triggers for an asthma attack

Factors that can trigger an attack, specifically smoke, pollution in the air, animal dander, cold air, pollen, strenuous exercise, and strong emotions.

Asthma management

Approaches to control asthma, which include managing one's environment, managing stress, and taking medications such as a bronchodilator.

Bronchodilator

A medication that relaxes muscles in the airways, opening them up and making breathing easier.

Allergy

An extreme sensitivity to a substance, characterized by an over reaction of the immune system to a certain substance.

Allergen

Substances that actually cause allergic reactions.

Histamine

A protein released by white blood cells once allergens enter the body and bond to them.

Antihistamines

Medications taken to control the body's allergic response.

Allergy management

Methods to manage allergic reactions, including avoiding the allergen altogether, taking medications like antihistamines to control the response, and getting allergy shots.

Body's response to allergies: Eyes

Symptoms affecting the eyes, including becoming reddened, itchy, and watery.

Body's response to allergies: Respiratory System

Symptoms affecting the airway, including a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties.

Body's response to allergies: Throat

Symptoms affecting the throat, including tightness and difficulty swallowing.

Body's response to allergies: Skin

Dermatological reactions, including redness, rashes, hives, and itching.

Body's response to allergies: Digestive System

Gastrointestinal reactions, including pain, cramps, diarrhea, and nausea.