Communicable Diseases Information

Question 1

How is varicella transmitted?

Answer 1

Close contact with infected person and their nose/throat secretions (coughing/sneezing), food, drinks, cigarettes, or kissing someone who has the virus could put you at risk.

Question 2

What is the incubation period for rubella?

Answer 2

12 to 23 days (average 14 days)

Question 3

What is the period of communicability for rubella?

Answer 3

7 days before to 7 days or more after the rash appears

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of rubella?

Answer 4

Rash, fever, joint aches, h/a, discomfort, runny nose, irritated eyes, swollen painful lymph nodes.

Question 5

When do symptoms of rubella appear?

Answer 5

Symptoms can appear 14 to 21 days after a person is infected with the rubella virus. In most cases, symptoms appear 14 to 17 days after exposure to the virus.

Question 6

What is the rash that accompanies rubella typically like?

Answer 6

The rash, which may be itchy, begins first on the face and then moves downwards from the head to the feet, and lasts about 3 to 5 days. About half of all rubella infections show no symptoms of a rash.

Question 7

How is haemophilus influenzae type B transmitted?

Answer 7

Coughing, sneezing, or close face-to-face contact. Saliva, shared food/utensils/drinks (droplet)

Question 8

What is the incubation period for haemophilus influenzae type B?

Answer 8

Unknown but less than 1 weeks (few days 2-4 days)

Question 9

What is the period of communicability for haemophilus influenzae type B?

Answer 9

Contagious unless treated.

No longer contagious 48-24 hours after antibiotics starting.

Question 10

What are the symptoms of haemophilus influenzae type B?

Answer 10

Usually starts with:

• fever
• vomiting
• lack of energy
• confusion
• headache/bulging fontanelle
• stiff neck

Can lead to:

• meningitis
• brain damage
• septicemia
• epiglottitis (cannoth breathe)
• pneumonia
• deafness
• death

Question 11

How is meningococcal C transmitted?

Answer 11

Coughing, sneezing, close face to face contact, spread through saliva by kissing, sharing food, drinks, cigarettes, lipstics, water bottles, mouth guards

Question 12

What is the incubation for meningococcal C?

Answer 12

3-4 days

Question 13

What is the period of communicability for meningococcal C?

Answer 13

Until the bacteria is not present in discharges from the nose and mouth - disappear after 24 hours following antibiotic treatment.

Question 14

What are the symptoms of meningococcal C?

Answer 14

Fever, headache, nause and often vomiting, bulging fontanelle, stiff neck, stiff back, pinpoint rash

Question 15

How is HSV transmitted?

Answer 15

Contact with mucous membranes or close skin-to-skin contact. Also sexual activities (including oral). can be spread in asymptomatic periods “shedding”.

Question 16

What is the incubation period of HSV?

Answer 16

2-21 days (first infection) can last up to 3 weeks

Question 17

What is the period of communicability of HSV?

Answer 17

Throughout infection

Question 18

What are the symptoms of HSV?

Answer 18

Prodromal: tingling, burning, itching
Flu-like symptoms (fever malaise)
Painful lesions, blisters, scabbing
Lesions last 4-15 days
Painful urination
Inflammation of urethra
Males: discharge (clear and mucoid), swelling
Females: swelling, lesions, HSV cervicitis, abnormal discharge (purulent or bloody)

Question 19

What is the period of onset to resolution of HSV?

Answer 19

~3 weeks (first infection) less sever in subsequent infections

Question 20

How is diptheria transmitted?

Answer 20

Droplet (cough, sneeze), rarely transmitted through open sores/mucous membranes

Question 21

What is the incubation period of diptheria?

Answer 21

1-10 days, but usually 2-5 days

Question 22

What is the period of communicability for diptheria?

Answer 22

The time is variable, but without antibiotics, organisms usually persist 2 weeks or less and seldom more than 4 weeks.
Chronic carriers may shed organisms for 6 months or more.
Effective antibiotic therapy promptly terminates shedding.

Question 23

What are the signs and symptoms of diptheria?

Answer 23

Early: sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands
Late: difficulty breathing, double vision, slurred speech, signs and symptoms of shock (pale, cool skin, increased HR)
Can lead to paralysis
Can lead to life threatening complications threatening heart and lkidneys

Question 24

What is the period from onset to resolution of diptheria?

Answer 24

7-10 days, sometimes lasting complications

Question 25

How is varicella transmitted?

Answer 25

Direct contact with lesions or oral secretions or by airborne route

Question 26

What is the incubation period of varicella?

Answer 26

10-21 days, usually 14-16 days

Question 27

What is the period of communicability of varicella?

Answer 27

1-2 days before onset of rash until all lesions are crusted over

Question 28

What are the indicators (signs and symptoms) of varicella?

Answer 28

Fever, sore throat, headache, general malaise, 1-2 days prior to rash

Rash- begins as red macular - papular, then itchy vesicles appear, new crops of rash appear over 2-4 days, vesicles break open leaving sores which crust over.

Progression of rash - first appears on body, scalp and face, then spreads to limbs

Question 29

What is the period of time from onset to resolution of varicella?

Answer 29

Approx. 10 days