Communicable Diseases

A communicable disease is any bacterial or viral condition or illness that

one person gets from another. Methods of disease transfer depend on the
type of illness and include inhaling airborne contaminants from an
infected person coughing or sneezing, transfer of infected fecal material
from hand to mouth and direct contact with infected individuals, such as
through kissing.

Meningitis
Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges (membranes) that
surround the spinal cord and brain. Of the two types of meningitis, viral
and bacterial, bacterial is the more severe, as reported by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Viral meningitis requires no
specific treatment, but bacterial meningitis requires immediate antibiotic
intervention. The type of bacteria causing the meningitis determines the
antibiotic regimen for treatment. Possible complications of bacterial
meningitis include brain damage and learning disabilities. Meningitis
spreads from person to person through direct contact of respiratory
secretions.

Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease
The Cleveland Clinic reports that hand-foot-mouth disease (not to be
confused with foot-and-mouth disease that affects cattle) manifests with
symptoms of fever, sore throat and runny nose. It is most common in
infants and children up to 10 years of age, notes the Cleveland Clinic.
The Coxsackie virus is the prevalent cause of hand-foot-mouth disease,
with the spread occurring through direct contact with the stool or
mucous of the infected person. The contagious period lasts through the
first week or until the disappearance of the rash. Treatment includes
comfort measures for the symptoms.

Shigellosis

MedlinePlus reports that there are different types of the Shigella

bacteria. Group D and group B account for the majority of the 18,000
cases in the United States every year. The bacteria live in the intestine
and spread through direct contact with an infected stool. Symptoms
require an average of three days to develop after contact with the
bacteria. The use of antibiotics, such as ampicillin, azithromycin or
ciprofloxacin, reduces the duration of shigellosis. Symptoms requiring
immediate medical attention include seizures, confusion, lethargy and
headache with a stiff neck.

Influenza
KidsHealth.org reports that influenza, a highly contagious respiratory
viral infection, is most prevalent from November to April. Symptoms of
influenza, or "the flu," include cough, sore throat, fever, headache, chills,
muscle aches, runny nose, dizziness and cough. Some types of influenza
present with nausea or vomiting. The contagious period ranges from a
day prior to any symptoms through one to two weeks, until symptoms go
away. Influenza spreads by contact with the virus-infected particles
sneezed or coughed into the air.
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Endemic disease
An infectious disease that occurs frequently in a specific geographical
locale. The disease often occurs is an example of an endemic disease.