Unit 31
P7- Describe methods used to prevent or control a named communicable and a named non-
communicable disease
There are various methods used to prevent or control a named communicable and a named non-
communicable disease. Many of these methods may be associated with hygiene, or they may not, but
what are such methods used to prevent and control such diseases, how do they work and are they in
fact effective, well below I will describe.
Methods used to prevent or control a communicable disease
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a communicable disease detrimental to public health. What tuberculosis exactly is, is a
bacterial infection that is spread through the inhalation of small droplets from the coughs or sneezes of
an infected person, very much how COVID is spread. The bacterial infection, if acquired can affects
various parts of the body and can be potentially serious in some cases if left untreated or treated with
the wrong medications. TB, if caught can affect the bodies organ systems including the lungs, tummy,
glands, nervous system and bones, attacking such areas. The attack of tuberculosis can lead to a
persistent cough as it attacks the lungs, the bringing up of phlegm and fatigue that will worsen overtime
without the correct treatment, the fight the TB off.
It is important that such a communicable disease is treated and controlled to prevent death and spread
of disease. To do so, such methods can be carried out the protect others and prevent poor public health,
but what are such methods used to prevent and control the bacterial, communicable disease
tuberculosis? I will describe below.
Immunization
Luckily, tuberculosis can be stopped, and immunization can protect us against the ever so spreadable
tuberculosis. The vaccine for tuberculosis is the BCG vaccine that protects us against tuberculosis. The
vaccine, BCG what is known as the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, contains a strain of Mycobacterium
bovis an agent which is indicated for the prevention of tuberculosis according to NICE. The BCG
vaccination is delivered usually into the upper arm and once delivered triggers the immune system to
protect against disease, in most cases giving immunity to those who receive the vaccination with an 80%
success rate.
The vaccination is recommended and offered to various groups and ages across society, with it being
recommended on NHS for children babies and adult individuals over the age of 35 at risk of contracting
Tuberculosis. Factors that can contribute to the risk of contracting TB could include being born in a
country where TB is prevalent or an area with high rates of TB or having a family member born in areas
high with TB. Prior to immunization, a test is carried out known as a tuberculin skin test, to ensure that
the individual is already free of TB, and if the tests shows such evidence then the vaccine will be denied
and a referral to be made for treatment purposes.
The immunization of tuberculosis is an effective method to both control and prevent the spread of TB
around the world. If the BCG vaccination is given, then there is much less probability of contracting TB
making spread less likely and therefore, promoting the control of TB and promoting positive health.
, Treatments
There are a few treatments for tuberculosis that usually involve the use of antibiotics for a varied
number of months, depending on the type of tuberculosis you are diagnosed with. If you are diagnosed
with pulmonary TB, a 6-month combination of the antibiotics isoniazid and rifampicin is usually the go to
treatment method. The antibiotics in this case aim to fight the TB and if successful overtime kill the TB
completely. If the type of tuberculosis is extra pulmonary TB, meaning it occurs outside the lungs the
same combinations for pulmonary TB can be used to kill the TB. However, if the TB is the uncommon but
a susceptible type of TB, known as multi-drug resistant TB, a type of TB that is resistant to 2 or more
common TB treatment antibiotics, treatment will be different. This is because treatment for multi-drug
resistant TB requires a longer time of treatment usually with different types of medications due to the
condition’s common resistance. But overtime depending on the strain, this type of TB can be treated
effectively. The last type of TB, Latent TB, is a strange type of tuberculosis that shows no common
symptoms of an active infection. Although much harder to spot, like other forms of tuberculosis, Latent
TB is commonly treated with a course of 2 or a combination of antibiotics over 3-6 months depending on
strain and individual.
The treatments for Tuberculosis, have much to do with the control and prevention of communicable
diseases. If TB, is treated, then it can be killed and diminished meaning it cannot affect others, therefore,
preventing the spread of infection and disease. With the elimination of such a devious infection the less
at-risk vulnerable members of society are from such a detrimental disease.
Hygiene
A big and important measure to prevent the spread of tuberculosis and control it is hygiene. It is known
that tuberculosis is an airborne infection that is spread through the airborne transmission through
sneezing and coughing, very much like COVID. So, a key element to preventing the spread of disease like
tuberculosis could include having good hand hygiene. Good hand hygiene cannot only prevent the
spread of the communicable disease tuberculosis, but also indirectly influence TB transmission.
Good hygiene does not only involve washing hands, due to the prevalent spread of tuberculosis but also
the use of tissues when sneezing or coughing, the covering of the mouth and nose during sneezing and
coughing and the washing of hands if in close proximity. Due to the airborne transmission of
tuberculosis being possible through coughing and sneezing, we must cover our mouths and noses to
prevent that transmission from occurring and affecting those who maybe forget to wash their hands or
touch an area where such a disease could transfer into the body e.g., eyes and mouth.
If we follow such methods, keep a good level of hygiene and take hygiene seriously then we can prevent
ourselves from contracting or spreading the very communicable disease tuberculosis and actively work
to control the spread of tuberculosis the ever so vulnerable and at-risk members of society. If we all do
our bit to use and dispose of tissues, wash hands thoroughly, wash our hands after going out then we
can prevent and control the spread of such communicable diseases.
