Infectious Diseases: Transmission, Symptoms, and Prevention

Chickenpox - Mode of Transmission

Airborne droplets. Can also be spread by contact with open sores.

Chickenpox - Incubation Period

10-21 days

Chickenpox - Period of Communicability

1-2 days before rash until 5 days after

Chickenpox - Signs and Symptoms

Fever and rash, especially on chest, abdomen, back, and proximal extremities

Chickenpox - Treatment

Isolation and antiviral medication

Chickenpox - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Chickenpox - Postexposure Actions

If not immunized, receive vaccine.

Chickenpox - Special Considerations

The virus can reactivate in an adult who experiences severe pain along a dermatome (herpes zoster). A vaccine is available.

Measles - Mode of Transmission

Airborne droplets and direct contact with nasal and throat secretions

Measles - Incubation Period

3-7 days

Measles - Period of Communicability

4 days before rash to 4 days after

Measles - Signs and Symptoms

Fever, cough, eye irritation, rash

Measles - Treatment

Isolation and supportive treatment

Measles - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Measles - Post Exposure Actions

If not immunized, receive vaccine and possibly immune globulin.

Measles - Special Considerations

Check to see if your health department requires you to report cases.

Mumps - Mode of Transmission

Droplets of saliva or contact with objects contaminated by saliva

Mumps - Incubation Period

16-18 days

Mumps - Period of Communicability

2 days before swelling to 5 days after

Mumps - Signs and Symptoms

Muscle aches, loss of appetite, headache, painful swelling of parotid gland

Mumps - Treatment

Isolation and supportive treatment

Mumps - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Mumps - Post Exposure Actions

No specific actions

Mumps - Special Considerations

Adult males can develop orchitis (inflammation of testicles)

Hepatitis A - Mode of Transmission

Fecal-oral route

Hepatitis A - Incubation Period

28-30 days

Hepatitis A - Period of Communicability

2 weeks after infection until 3 days after jaundice appears

Hepatitis A - Signs and Symptoms

Fever, nausea, loss of appetite, malaise, abdominal pain, jaundice

Hepatitis A - Treatment

Supportive treatment

Hepatitis A - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Hepatitis A - Postexposure Actions

Vaccine, possible hepatitis A immune globulin

Hepatitis A - Special Considerations

Hepatitis E is similar to hepatitis A but caused by a different virus.

Hepatitis B - Mode of Transmission

Blood, semen, CSF, amniotic fluid, vaginal secretions

Hepatitis B - Incubation Period

60-90 days

Hepatitis B - Period of Communicability

As long as hepatitis B surface antigen test is positive

Hepatitis B - Signs and Symptoms

Nausea, loss of appetite, malaise, abdominal pain, jaundice

Hepatitis B - Treatment

Supportive treatment

Hepatitis B - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Hepatitis B - Postexposure Actions

Wash exposure site, get vaccinated if not immune, evaluate for immune globulin

Hepatitis B - Special Considerations

If you have hepatitis B, you can get infected with hepatitis D

Hepatitis C - Mode of Transmission

Blood, semen, CSF, amniotic fluid, vaginal secretions

Hepatitis C - Incubation Period

6-9 weeks

Hepatitis C - Period of Communicability

From 1 week before symptoms appear; chronic carriers can transmit indefinitely

Hepatitis C - Signs and Symptoms

Nausea, loss of appetite, malaise, abdominal pain, jaundice, but most patients don't show symptoms

Hepatitis C - Treatment

Several medication regimens are safe and effective

Hepatitis C - Prevention

Standard Precautions

Hepatitis C - Post Exposure Actions

No specific actions

Hepatitis C - Special Considerations

Can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer

HIV/AIDS - Mode of Transmission

Blood, semen, CSF, amniotic fluid, vaginal secretions, breast milk

HIV/AIDS - Incubation Period

Less than 1 year; might never progress to AIDS with proper treatment

HIV/AIDS - Period of Communicability

Most easily transmitted when viral load is high

HIV/AIDS - Signs and Symptoms

Fever, sore throat, fatigue within a few weeks; later, opportunistic infections

HIV/AIDS - Treatment

Antiviral medications to suppress the virus

HIV/AIDS - Prevention

Standard Precautions

HIV/AIDS - Post Exposure Actions

Wash site, evaluate for antiviral prophylaxis

HIV/AIDS - Special Considerations

Chronic disease; patients can experience discrimination

Influenza - Mode of Transmission

Airborne droplets and direct contact

Influenza - Incubation Period

1-4 days

Influenza - Period of Communicability

1 day before symptoms to 7 days after

Influenza - Signs and Symptoms

Fever, nonproductive cough, severe muscle aches, sore throat, headache, weakness

Influenza - Treatment

Antiviral medication, supportive treatment

Influenza - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Influenza - Post Exposure Actions

Possibly antiviral medication

Influenza - Special Considerations

Different strains circulate yearly; EMTs should get vaccinated annually

Croup - Mode of Transmission

Airborne droplets and direct contact

Croup - Incubation Period

2-3 days

Croup - Period of Communicability

During incubation period to 10 days after symptoms start

Croup - Signs and Symptoms

Upper respiratory infection symptoms, dyspnea, bark like cough (especially in children)

Croup - Treatment

Supportive treatment

Croup - Prevention

Standard Precautions

Croup - Post Exposure Actions

No specific actions

Croup - Special Considerations

ALS personnel may administer medications to help relieve symptoms

Pertussis - Mode of Transmission

Airborne droplets

Pertussis - Incubation Period

9-10 days

Pertussis - Period of Communicability

Up to 3 weeks (or 5 days if on antibiotics)

Pertussis - Signs and Symptoms

Initial URI symptoms, then severe uninterrupted coughing with a whooping sound on inspiration

Pertussis - Treatment

Antibiotics, supportive treatment

Pertussis - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Pertussis - Post Exposure Actions

For pregnant women, possibly antibiotics; otherwise, no specific actions

Pertussis - Special Considerations

Can be fatal to infants; adult vaccination is important for prevention

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Mode of Transmission

Droplets

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Incubation Period

1-3 days

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Period of Communicability

Until 24 hours after antibiotics

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Signs and Symptoms

Fever, chills, shortness of breath, tachypnea, pleuritic chest pain, productive cough

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Treatment

Antibiotics, supportive treatment

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Prevention

Vaccine, Standard Precautions

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Post Exposure Actions

No specific actions

Pneumococcal Pneumonia - Special Considerations

Common cause of sepsis in the young and elderly

Tuberculosis - Mode of Transmission

Airborne droplets

Tuberculosis - Incubation Period

2-10 weeks

Tuberculosis - Period of Communicability

Until 2-4 weeks after antibiotics begin

Tuberculosis - Signs and Symptoms

Cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss

Tuberculosis - Treatment

Antibiotics, supportive treatment

Tuberculosis - Prevention

Standard and airborne precautions

Tuberculosis - Post Exposure Actions

Report exposure to hospital, get tested; if positive, take antibiotics

Tuberculosis - Special Considerations

EMTs should wear N95 respirators

Meningococcal Meningitis - Mode of Transmission

Direct contact

Meningococcal Meningitis - Incubation Period

3-4 days

Meningococcal Meningitis - Period of Communicability

From 3 days after infection to 24 hours after antibiotics

Meningococcal Meningitis - Signs and Symptoms

Abrupt fever, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, neck stiffness, light sensitivity, petechiae