Communicable Diseases By: Cari LaMolinare Molly Breyne C.J Zuppan

What is a Communicable Disease? A communicable disease is a disease that you can "catch" from someone or something else. They spread by contact with bodily fluids, through the air from a cough or sneeze, or by touching an infected surface. Some people may use the words contagious or infectious when talking about communicable diseases.

Top 10 Most Common Communicable Diseases Common Cold Gastroenteritis Strep Throat Pink Eye Influenza Gonorrhea Hepatitis Whooping Cough Rotavirus HIV/AIDS Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens passed from one human to another. Pathogens are viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal. Methods of transmission include mucus, blood, breath, saliva and sexual contact. Contaminated surfaces, such as doorknobs, counter tops and playground equipment, provide a medium for passing disease from one human to another.

Statistics Show… 62 million cases of the common cold occur each year. Infectious disease, such as the cold or flu, which are spread by germs, accounts for 20 million school days lost annually, and cost the U.S. $120 billion a year. On average annually in the US: 10-20% of the population gets the flu. Over 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and about 23,600 people die from flu-related causes. About 10 million U.S. adults (ages 18 - 69) were unable to work during 2002 due to health problems spread by infectious germs. World Health Report 2000 reports that 14 million deaths (25 percent of all deaths in the world in 1999) resulted from infectious diseases or their complications. In high-income countries, infectious diseases accounted for only 6 percent of all deaths, whereas in middle-and low-income countries they accounted for 28 percent of all deaths.

High-Risk Groups Symptoms Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years of age Adults 65 years of age and older Pregnant women American Indians/Alaskan Natives People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy People who have certain medical conditions Fever (although not everyone with flu has a fever) Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Body aches Headache Chills Tiredness Sometimes diarrhea and vomiting When to seek emergency care: In young children: ◦Fast breathing or trouble breathing ◦Bluish skin color ◦Not drinking enough fluids ◦Not waking up or not interacting ◦Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held ◦Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough ◦Fever with rash •In adults: ◦Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath ◦Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen ◦Sudden dizziness ◦Confusion ◦Severe or persistent vomiting ◦Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Prevention Wash your hands- with soap & water! After using the bathroom Before preparing or eating food After changing a diaper After blowing your nose or sneezing or coughing After caring for a sick person After playing with a pet Get vaccinated Avoid close contact Stay at home when you are sick Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough In one study, only 58% of female and 48% of male middle and high school students washed their hands after using the bathroom. Of these, only 33% of the females and 8% of the males used soap.10 Adult hand cleaning behaviors also need improvement. In one study, 92% said they always wash their hands in public restrooms, but only 77% were observed doing so.

Resources http://www.livestrong.com/article/162224-communicable-diseases-in-kids/#ixzz1d3OwA2H2 hes.ucfsd.org/gclaypo/commdise/commdise.html http://www.livestrong.com/article/83933-common-communicable-diseases http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/communicable_diseases.aspx http://www.itsasnap.org/snap/statistics.asp http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/guidance.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF3XvCrl75I http://lysol.com/healthy-families/kidz-zone/healthy-hands