Assignment 12B
Explain how infectious diseases can be transmitted.
Introduction
In this assignment the topic that is discussed is how infectious diseases are transmitted and
the prevention of the diseases from being transmitted. In the assignment what is the discussed
is the many ways an infectious disease can be transmitted and there are several points of this
topic that is covered.
For the prevention of infectious diseases what is covered about this topic is the many ways to
stop the rate of transmission and organisation that tackle infectious disease and how the
prevention the spread of it.
How an infectious disease can be transmitted are human to human which would be by bodily
fluids another way it can be transmitted is via animal to humans, vectors such as fleas, lice,
ticks and mosquitoes another way is transmission via surfaces, infected water droplets as
well as seizes, vapour from coughing.
How an infectious diseases are transmitted via human to human are through contact with
body fluids like saliva,blood and semen it can also be transmitted through contaminated
surfaces e.g. doorknobs and countertops, another example is through the air when an
infected person sneezes and coughs.Precautions should be taken when dealing with an
infected person e.g. via body fluids through sexual intercourse make sure protection is worn,
or when drugs are taken no needles should be shared, contaminated surface make sure to
disinfect surfaces always wash hands entering and leaving a room, and a infected person
should wear a mask to prevent pathogens from spreading through coughs and sneezes.
animal to human, animal waste (droppings).
Another way an infectious disease is transmitted is through animals to humans. This by
direct contact with infected animals via bites, scratches or direct contact with animal
droppings or urine.
vectors – fleas, lice, ticks, mosquitoes
How vectors transmit infectious disease is by two types of vectors: biological and
mechanical. The biological vectors are mosquitoes and ticks because they carry multiply
pathogens within their bodies which are then delivered to there new host via biting the
host.The other vectors lice and fleas are the mechanical vectors how infectious disease are
, transmitted by the vectors carrying the diseases carrying them on their body and are
transmitted by physical contact.
transmission – surfaces, infected water droplets (sneezes, vapour from coughing)
Coughs and sneezes produce respiratory droplets that can carry respiratory viral
infections. These droplets, which vary in size, are forcefully expelled and can
disperse in the environment. They can be inhaled by a susceptible individual nearby,
allowing the infection to spread. Airborne infections can be transmitted through
small respiratory particles, even without close contact with an infected person.
contamination – food or water, e.g. salmonella, typhoid.
How an infectious disease is transmitted through contamination of food and water is
because of pathogens that are found in the sources such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or
toxins and is spread is by someone ingesting the contaminated food or water. How
contamination of food occurs is when pathogens contaminate a food source during any
process of the production of food preparation, a common source for contamination would be
raw or uncooked meat, seafood or eggs. A common disease that a person will contract
because of food contamination would be salmonella which is contracted when meat is stored
in poor condition or when the meat is undercooked or the consumption of raw eggs.
How transmission of an infectious disease occurs with a water source, is when pathogens
have entered the water source that people consume. How this happens is due to sewage
contamination, poor sanitation, pollution contamination that mainly occurs in poor economic
countries. How it is transmitted is due to a person consuming contaminated water, swimming
in contaminated water or using the water for preparation for food.
Prophylaxis: antibiotics, antimalarial, antiviral.
Prophylaxis is treatment or an action to prevent the spread of disease. An example of that
would be antibiotics, antimalarial and antiviral drugs. Those medications play a vital role in
the prevention of infectious diseases being spread.
Antibiotics are a drug used to treat bacterial infections, how the drug works by killing the
bacteria or preventing their growth within the body. How antibiotics are used to prevent
infectious disease from being spread is by giving the drug to individuals who are at high risk
of developing an infection. An example of the individuals are those who have a weak
immune system or individuals about to undergo surgery. By giving the drug to the individuals
before contracting an infection it will prohibit the development of the individual from
contracting it as the antibiotics will stop the spread of it to others.
Antimalarial is a drug used to treat and prevent the spread of malaria which is an infectious
disease that is caused by parasites in a mosquito. How antimalarials are used as a
prophylaxis is when the medication has been given to aid with the occurrence of malaria for
individuals that are travelling to countries that have malaria. How antimalarial works is it
suppresses the growth and replication of malaria within the body, by taking this medication it
aids with stopping the infection and reduces the chances of the infections spreading to
others hence why it is a prophylaxis.
