Diseases and Infection transmission
Infectious diseases are caused and spread by bacteria’s, viruses, fungus, protozoa’s, and
parasites. These pathogens can cause a lot of damage to the body. Pathogens can be
transmitted through different methods. There are six ways that infectious diseases can be
transmitted; the transmission methods can be through contact direct contact (Person to
person contact), indirect contact, airborne, ingestion, inoculation (Vector to person) and
transplacental transmission (Mother to baby).
A direct contact transmission is when bacteria spreads through physical contact and
droplets from an infected person to another individual. There are multiply diseases that can
be contracted through direct contact. One of the prevalent diseases is Ebola, which is a
direct contact disease that spreads from person to person through blood or other body fluids
such as urine and sweat. Ebola can affect the human body in many ways, the symptoms
are fever-like, tiredness, headache, coughing and muscle pain. If Ebola is left untreated can
be vital and detrimental to human body or caused death. The bacteria can spread and
infects the blood stream causing blood clots which lead to limited blood flow to the kidney
and inhibit kidney functions.
An indirect contact transmission refer to the transfer of an infectious agent from a reservoir
to a host by suspended air particles (from coughing and sneezing), inanimate objects
(vehicles), or animate intermediaries (vectors). Molluscum contagiosum is an indirect contact
disease which can be spread through sharing of bath towels and contaminated beddings.
For instance, If a person has molluscum contagiosum and shares a bed other person, that
individual will get it too.
Airborne transmission is a type of indirect transmission that spread diseases/bacteria
through air. Measles is an airborne disease which means bacteria travels long distances and
remain suspended in the air for an extended period of time. Measles can be contracted
when entering a room after someone with measles has left (breathing the contaminated air).
Measles is the leading death in children. Measles is spread other people through coughing
and sneezing droplets.
An ingestion transmission is a type of indirect contact transmission that can be spread as a
result of eating uncooked meat, eggs and drinking contaminated water .This indirect contact
transmission through the digestive system is known as E.coli. It can also be spread from
one person to other via coughing, kissing, or touching surfaces and it coming to contact with
the mouth. The bacteria travels down the body into the digestive tract and releases toxins
which cause damage to the lining of the small intestine, which can then lead to diarrhoea.
Shigatoxin found in E.coli can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome which can lead to kidney
failure ,because the toxins destroy the red blood cells. Furthermore ,it makes the kidney’s
filter block and causes a kidney failure.
Inoculation (mechanical inoculation, mechanical transmission, or sap transmission) refers to
bringing healthy plant parts, usually leaves, into contact with a virus-containing suspension
(inoculum) in such a way that infection develops. There are two types of inoculation one is
caused by insect bite and the other is caused by sharp objects. Yellow fever is an inoculation
transmitted diseases that it spread by female mosquitos biting then feeding into the blood of
a human. The female mosquito is the vector that spreads the disease. Yellow fever effects
the body by causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and liver damage.
, The second type of inoculation is by sharp objects. Hepatitis B is a disease spread from
sharing a sharp object (Needles) that are contaminated with blood. Hepatitis B bacteria is
spread through blood, for instance , a person with hepatitis B disease bleeds and come in
contact with another person through touching that individual can be infected with the
disease. When the tissues of the body gets infected by the hepatitis B bacteria, it can cause
liver inflammation and damage.
Transplacental transmission are infections that are spread through the placenta from mother
to baby. HIV is a disease that can be transmitted from parent to child through the placenta.
The baby has a higher risk of transmitting HIV when it is exposed to the mother’s blood and
other fluids. Factors such as water breaking 4 hours before delivery, taking, or injecting
recreational drugs and having a sexually transmitted disease during pregnancy can put the
baby in a high risk of getting HIV.
Ebola is prevented in many ways some examples are washing hands with soap and water,
avoid going in areas that have large outbreaks, avoid eating wild animal (bush) meat and
staying far away from people who are infect by it. There is also a vaccination known as
rVSV-ZEBOV which is aimed to prevent the Ebola strain Zaire. Zaire is the most common
and one of the most fatal Ebola viruses. The RVSV-ZEBOV vaccine is 90%-100% effective
to prevent the Ebola virus. For the vaccination to be effective two doses must be taken, the
second dose is taken 28 days after the first vaccine. Nearly one billion pounds is put into
developing the Ebola vaccine. There are some advantages and one disadvantage of the
Ebola vaccine. The disadvantage is mild side effects such as nausea, joint pain, feverish and
sweating. The advantages are 90-100% effective, the vaccine helps trigger the immune
system so that when the virus comes to contact, the immune system recognises it and
prepares to attack the virus. By the immune system attacking the virus it protects the person
from the disease.
Molluscum contagiosum is prevented by keeping hands clean and being careful when doing
sport activities. By washing hands, it removes the bacteria that came from a person or a
surface. For sports activities it is important to not share towels and clothing. It is also
important not to take part in physical contact activities such as wrestling, swimming, and
basketball.
Measles is prevented by taking the measles vaccination, which is also known as the MMR,
this is the best method to prevent it. The first dose is given from 12months to 15 months old,
then the second dose is given from 4 to 6 years old. This vaccination does not just prevent
measles it also prevents Mumps and Rubella. After the second dose the effectiveness for
Measles and Rubella is 99% and the effectiveness for Mumps is around 88%.Each dose
cost from £45 to £55, once both doses are done the vaccine will protect the person for life.
There are some side-effects from the vaccine which are rash, temperature, swollen arm, and
loss of appetite. There are advantages and disadvantages of the vaccination. The
advantages are only one vaccine is needed for all three, it immunises children for three
diseases and the infection rate and death rate has decreased. The disadvantages based on
some studies say that there is a link between MMR vaccine and autism, the vaccines can
hurt, and some children will get mild reactions.
E.coli is prevented by washing hands, utensils used to clean raw meat, cooking meals at a
high temperature ,separate raw meat from ready cooked meals and clean the area of
cooking raw meat such as chicken thoroughly.
Yellow fever is prevented by avoiding mosquitoes bites. Mosquitoes bites are prevented by
wearing long sleeves and long pants, spraying mosquito repellent, and taking the yellow