Communicable Diseases Flashcards
Airborne Transmission
Pathogens that are light enough to travel in the air. Air vents and currents can help spread. Common diseases: TB, Measles, Chickenpox.
Droplet Transmission
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.
Contact Transmission
Direct or indirect contact with a droplet-contaminated surface. Common diseases: Influenza, Conjunctivitis (pink eye), Impetigo.
Vehicle Transmission
Eating contaminated food or sharing needles with infected blood. Common diseases: E Coli, Hep A+B, Salmonella.
Vector-borne Transmission
Animal or insect bites/stings. Common diseases: Rabies, Malaria, West Nile Virus.
Measles
Airborne. Fever, conjunctivitis, rashes. 10 day incubation period.
Rubella (German 3-day measles)
Droplets, direct/indirect contact with fluids. Fever, headache, runny nose, rash similar to Measles.
Mumps
Droplet, direct/indirect contact. Fever, swollen salivary glands (parotid).
In adults, testicular swelling up to 25%.
16-18 day incubation period.
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Droplet, direct/indirect contact. Slight fever, photosensitivity, rash/scabs.
10-21 day incubation period.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Droplet, direct/indirect contact. Whooooping cough.
7-10 day incubation period.
Meningitis
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.
Tuberculosis
Not highly transmissible. 3 week cough with one of the following: fever, headache, fatigue, chest pain, hoarsness.
4-12 week incubation period.
Pneumonia
Transmissible to vulnerable groups. Inflammation of the lungs. Viral = whole lung. Bacterial - One lobe.
Laryngitis
Inflammation, overuse, or irritation of the voice box. Usually viral. Hoarseness, weak voice, sore throat, dry throat, cough.
Croup
Transmissible through droplets. Childhood condition - inflammation of the larynx and slightly below. Barking cough, fever, worse symptoms at night, 3-7 days.
Epiglottitis
Transmissible through droplets. Childhood condition : bacterial infection of the epiglottis. Drooling, stridor, trouble breathing, fever.
Mononucleosis
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.
HIV
Only transmissible through blood or sexual fluids. Late stage is AIDS. Incubation of 7~ days.
West Nile Virus
Vector-borne - mosquito bite. Generally mild - 20% of people affected actually have symptoms, and even less develop complications of Meningitis.
Lyme Disease
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
Rabies
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.
Tetanus
Zoonotic disease. Originates from animal intestines, mostly horses. Symptoms include muscle rigidity around the lower face and hydrophobia. 2 week incubation period.
Hantavirus
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.
