CPHMLS_Communicable-Disease

Communicable Diseases

• Overview of communicable diseases: include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

• Significant causes of death and disability particularly in low-income countries and marginalized populations.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Definition

• Tuberculosis is an infectious disease predominantly affecting the lungs, termed Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

• Can also affect other body parts, termed Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis, including bones, meninges, joints, genito-urinary tract, intestines, liver, kidneys, and heart.

Cause and Transmission

• Causative Agent: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tubercle bacilli).

• Mode of Transmission: Primarily through inhalation of bacteria released into the air via droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected individual.

• The bacteria can be destroyed in sunlight within 5 minutes, but can survive for up to a year in dark, moist, and poorly ventilated areas.

Symptoms of TB

• Persistent cough lasting two weeks or more.

• Fever.

• Chest or back pain unrelated to other diseases.

• Weight loss.

• Blood-streaked sputum or hemoptysis.

Treatment

• Active TB infection: Treatment involves the use of INH (Isoniazid) in combination with other medications like Rifampin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide, and Streptomycin for a duration of 6 to 8 months.

Staining Methods

• Ziehl-Neelsen Staining (hot).

• Kinyoun Staining (cold).

Global Impact

• The Philippines contributes significantly to global TB cases, accounting for 7% of the total. As of 2021, approximately 650 individuals per 100,000 were infected, up from 554 the previous year.

Hepatitis

Overview

• Viral Hepatitis: One of the most prevalent diseases globally, particularly in the Philippines, causing severe illness with a death occurring every 30 seconds due to hepatitis-related issues, even amid COVID-19.

• It results in liver inflammation and can cause severe complications if untreated.

Severity of Hepatitis

• May lead to liver cancer or cirrhosis, a serious condition causing permanent liver damage due to scarring.

Types of Hepatitis Viruses

• Most prominent types: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.

• Each has varying degrees of severity and chronic infection progression.

• Hepatitis B: Affects 1 in every 7 Filipino adults and can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in up to 30% of those infected.

Hepatitis A

• Transmission: Fecal-oral route via unsanitary conditions; does not lead to chronic infection.

• Prevention: Good hygiene, access to clean water, and vaccination.

• Symptoms: Fever, flu-like symptoms, jaundice, abdominal discomfort, dark urine.

• Treatment: No specific cure; rest and fluids are recommended.

Hepatitis B

• Transmission: Through blood, semen, and bodily fluids. High risk associated with unprotected sex, needle sharing, and from mother to infant.

• Chronic infection risk is high; vaccination is critical in prevention.

• Symptoms: Weakness, stomach upset, jaundice. Notable chronic complications include liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

• Treatment: No cure, but vaccinations are available for prevention.

Hepatitis C

• Transmission: Primarily through blood contact including needle sharing. Can also be sexually transmitted.

• Symptoms: Headache, jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine.

• Treatment: No cure, but treatments such as interferon and ribavirin can alleviate symptoms; prevention is key.

Other Communicable Diseases

Typhoid Fever

• Cause: Salmonella typhi bacteria.

• Transmission: Contaminated food/water or close contact with an infected person.

• Symptoms: Sustained high fever, headache, malaise, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea or constipation.

• Treatment: Antibiotics such as Ciproflaxin or Ceftriaxone; prevention via sanitary practices.

Soil Transmitted Helminths

• Commonly known as intestinal worms; prevalent in poor communities.

• Causative Agents: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus).

• Transmission: Spread through soil or water contaminated by human feces containing parasite larvae.

• Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal prolapse, and impaired growth in children.

• Treatment: Anthelmintic medications like albendazole and mebendazole; mass drug administration (MDA) can be used for prevention among at-risk populations.

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

Overview

• AIDS is a chronic disease caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), weakening the immune system, leading to increased susceptibility to infections.

Transmission

• Mode of transmission includes unprotected sex, sharing of needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, and weight loss.

Treatment and Prevention

• No cure is available, but antiretroviral medications can slow disease progression.

• Prevention includes using clean needles and practicing safe sex.