Communicable Diseases Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards detailing causative agents, transmission routes, clinical features, treatments, and prevention measures for various communicable diseases.

UTI (Uncomplicated Cystitis)

Urinary tract infection usually caused by E. coli via ascending periurethral flora, presenting with dysuria, frequency, and urgency; treated with Nitrofurantoin, TMP-SMX, or fosfomycin.

Gonorrhea

Sexually transmitted infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, characterized by purulent urethral/cervical discharge and dysuria with potential PID; treated with Ceftriaxone.

Syphilis

Infection caused by Treponema pallidum progressing through primary (single, painless chancre), secondary (condylomata lata, generalized rash), latent (asymptomatic), and tertiary (gumma, neurosyphilis, argyll-robertson pupil) stages; treated with Penicillin G.

Chlamydia

Sexually transmitted infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, often asymptomatic or causing mucopurulent cervicitis, dysuria, and PID; treated with Doxycycline, or Azithromycin in pregnancy.

Trichomoniasis

Sexually transmitted infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, presenting with frothy yellow-green discharge, vulvar irritation, and strawberry cervix; treated with Metronidazole or tinidazole.

Genital Warts

Sexually transmitted lesions caused by HPV 6, 11 presenting as cauliflower-like genital warts; treated with Imiquimod, podophyllotoxin, or cryotherapy.

Genital Herpes

Infection caused by HSV-1 or HSV-2 presenting with painful grouped vesicles or ulcers and recurrent outbreaks; treated with Acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Condition caused by Gardnerella vaginalis when normal vaginal flora is disrupted, presenting with thin, gray-white, fishy-smelling discharge, clue cells, and elevated vaginal pH; treated with Metronidazole or clindamycin.

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Infection caused by Candida albicans characterized by intense pruritus, erythema, thick "cottage cheese" discharge, and normal pH; treated with topical azole or oral fluconazole.

Tuberculosis (Koch’s Disease)

Airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculae featuring a cough of 2 weeks or more, hemoptysis, weight loss, and pleuritic back pain; treated with Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyraxinamide, and Ethambutol.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough / Tuspirina)

Droplet-transmitted disease caused by Bordatella pertussis presenting with bursts or paroxysms of coughing followed by a "whoop" and post-tussive vomiting; treated with Erythromycin or clarithromycin.

Diphtheria

Droplet infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae presenting with thick, gray pseudomembranes over tonsils and throat, bullneck appearance, and potential airway obstruction; treated with antitoxin, penicillin G, or erythromycin.

Epiglottitis

Medical emergency caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B characterized by high grade fever, tripod position, drooling, muffled voice, stridor, and a "THUMB SIGN" appearance on lateral X-ray of upper airway; treated with intubation and ceftriaxone.

Croup (LTB)

Respiratory infection caused by RSV, parainfluenza virus, or adenovirus presenting with a barking cough, fever, and coryza; managed with nebulization and racemic epinephrine.

COVID-19

Airborne and droplet infection caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 presenting with fever, cough, coryza, sore throat, anosmia, aguesia, and severe ARDS; treated with dexamethasone, remdesivir, and tocilizumab for severe disease.

Rubeola (Measles)

Viral exanthem caused by Measles virus featuring the 3 Cs (cough, coryza, conjunctivitis), Koplik spots, and a descending maculopapular rash; managed with supportive care and vitamin A in children.

Rubella

Viral exanthem caused by Rubella virus presenting with mild fever, postauricular/suboccipital lymphadenopathy, and a "3-day rash"; can cause congenital rubella syndrome.

Varicella

Infection caused by Varicella-zoster virus presenting with pruritic vesicles in different stages ("dew drops").

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

Reactivation of VZV causing painful unilateral dermatomal vesicles; treated ideally within 72 hours with Acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir.

Mpox (Monkeypox)

Infection caused by Mpox virus featuring fever, lymphadenopathy, and deep-seated, painful lesions progressing through stages; treated with supportive care or tecovirimat for severe cases.

Dengue

Mosquito-borne infection caused by Dengue virus and transmitted by Aedes aegypti, presenting with high fever, severe headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, rash, and warning signs such as abdominal pain, bleeding, and plasma leakage.

Malaria

Mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium spp. transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, presenting with cyclic fever/chills, anemia, and splenomegaly, with P. falciparum causing severe/cerebral malaria.

Schistosomiasis

Infection caused by Schistosoma spp. transmitted via skin penetration from freshwater containing freshwater snails; presents as Katayama fever, hematuria (S. haematobium), or hepatosplenic disease; treated with Praziquantel.

Filariasis

Mosquito-borne disease caused by Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia spp. leading to lymphedema, elephantiasis, hydrocele, and fever/lymphangitis; treated with Diethylcarbamazine (DEC).

Leptospirosis

Infection caused by Leptospira interrogans from contact with contaminated water, presenting with fever, severe headache, calf myalgia, conjunctival suffusion, and Weil disease (jaundice + AKI + bleeding) in severe cases; treated with Doxycycline, IV Penicillin G, or Ceftriaxone.

Rabies

Fatal infection caused by Rabies virus (Lyssavirus) transmitted via animal saliva, causing paresthesia at bite site, hydrophobia, aerophobia, agitation, encephalitis, and paralysis; managed with post-exposure wound cleansing, rabies vaccine, and HRIG.

Poliomyelitis

Fecal-oral infection caused by Poliovirus that can progress from aseptic meningitis to severe acute flaccid asymmetric paralysis; prevented by IPV and OPV vaccines.

Leprosy

Infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae presenting with hypopigmented/reddish anesthetic skin lesions, peripheral nerve thickening, sensory loss, and weakness; treated with multidrug therapy (rifampicin + dapsone ± clofazimine).

Tetanus

Condition caused by Clostridium tetani spores entering wounds, presenting with trismus (lockjaw), risus sardonicus, muscle rigidity, spasms, and opisthotonus; treated with TIG, wound care, and metronidazole.

Viral Hepatitis Summary

Viral conditions categorized as: A = Acute (oral-fecal); B = Birth + Blood + Body fluids (chronic possible); C = Chronic + Curable (via DAAs); D = Dependent on B; E = Expectant mother (severe in pregnancy, oral-fecal).