Communicable Diseases

Question 1

Airborne Transmission

Answer 1

Pathogens that are light enough to travel in the air. Air vents and currents can help spread. Common diseases: TB, Measles, Chickenpox.

Question 2

Droplet Transmission

Answer 2

Large respiratory droplets when a patient coughs or sneezes. Droplets can land on mucous membranes or other entry points and infect another person. Common diseases include many acute respiratory diseases.

Question 3

Contact Transmission

Answer 3

Direct or indirect contact with a droplet-contaminated surface. Common diseases: Influenza, Conjunctivitis (pink eye), Impetigo.

Question 4

Vehicle Transmission

Answer 4

Eating contaminated food or sharing needles with infected blood. Common diseases: E Coli, Hep A+B, Salmonella.

Question 5

Vector-borne Transmission

Answer 5

Animal or insect bites/stings. Common diseases: Rabies, Malaria, West Nile Virus.

Question 6

Measles

Answer 6

Airborne. Fever, conjunctivitis, rashes. 10 day incubation period.

Question 7

Rubella (German 3-day measles)

Answer 7

Droplets, direct/indirect contact with fluids. Fever, headache, runny nose, rash similar to Measles.

Question 8

Mumps

Answer 8

Droplet, direct/indirect contact. Fever, swollen salivary glands (parotid).

In adults, testicular swelling up to 25%.

16-18 day incubation period.

Question 9

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Answer 9

Droplet, direct/indirect contact. Slight fever, photosensitivity, rash/scabs.

10-21 day incubation period.

Question 10

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Answer 10

Droplet, direct/indirect contact. Whooooping cough.

7-10 day incubation period.

Question 11

Meningitis

Answer 11

Droplet, indirect/indirect contact (only bacterial is transmissible).

Sudden onset of fever, headache, stiff neck,
inability to extend leg (Kernig sign),
passive flexion of both legs - one involuntary (Brudzinski sign),
purple rash, altered mental status, projectile vomiting.

Question 12

Tuberculosis

Answer 12

Not highly transmissible. 3 week cough with one of the following: fever, headache, fatigue, chest pain, hoarsness.

4-12 week incubation period.

Question 13

Pneumonia

Answer 13

Transmissible to vulnerable groups. Inflammation of the lungs. Viral = whole lung. Bacterial - One lobe.

Question 14

Laryngitis

Answer 14

Inflammation, overuse, or irritation of the voice box. Usually viral. Hoarseness, weak voice, sore throat, dry throat, cough.

Question 15

Croup

Answer 15

Transmissible through droplets. Childhood condition - inflammation of the larynx and slightly below. Barking cough, fever, worse symptoms at night, 3-7 days.

Question 16

Epiglottitis

Answer 16

Transmissible through droplets. Childhood condition : bacterial infection of the epiglottis. Drooling, stridor, trouble breathing, fever.

Question 17

Mononucleosis

Answer 17

Transmissible throught saliva (kissing disease). Viral. Symptoms begin like a cold, then progress to the lower respiratory tract, causing Pneumonia or Bronchiolitis. 4-6 week incubation period.

Question 18

HIV

Answer 18

Only transmissible through blood or sexual fluids. Late stage is AIDS. Incubation of 7~ days.

Question 19

West Nile Virus

Answer 19

Vector-borne - mosquito bite. Generally mild - 20% of people affected actually have symptoms, and even less develop complications of Meningitis.

Question 20

Lyme Disease

Answer 20

Vector-borne - tick bite. Bacterial. Mostly a summer disease.

1st stage: Red round rash like a bullseye. Warm to touch and will scab.
2nd stage: Secondary rashes and flu like symptoms with dry coughs. Develops into neurological and cardiac problems.
3rd stage: Arthritis, memory loss, depression, severe fatigue

Question 21

Rabies

Answer 21

Zoonotic disease. Typically bites from mammals, especially dogs. Incubation of at least a week. Symptoms are non-specific except for hydrophobia and neurotropic symptoms. Once symptoms begin, treatment is difficult but not impossible.

Question 22

Tetanus

Answer 22

Zoonotic disease. Originates from animal intestines, mostly horses. Symptoms include muscle rigidity around the lower face and hydrophobia. 2 week incubation period.

Question 23

Hantavirus

Answer 23

Zoonotic disease. Aerosol transmission from mouse feces. Sudden onset of fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting. Later progresses to cardiopulmonary issues. 2 week incubation period.