Health and Diseases

Class: 9
 What is Health
• Health is "the state of complete physical,
mental, and social wellbeing and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity." In either
sense, health is a state of action that includes
prevention, care, and individual responsibility
to achieve optimal health.
 FIVE MAIN FACTORS FOR MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH

Good Health

Make Diet Goals for Maintaining

Good Health
Establish Exercise Habits –
Foundational for
Maintaining Good Health
Rest for Enhanced Wellness
Limit Alcohol
and Tobacco Use Practice Good Posture 
 What is acute Disease?
• A few diseases occur suddenly and last for a few
days. These are known as acute diseases, such as
common cold. This condition can be treated with
medical treatment or on its own. Many times, acute
diseases turn chronic if they continue to persist.
• Acute diseases can occur throughout all body
systems. For eg, the first asthma attack is acute
which later turns chronic. Strep throat, broken bone,
appendicitis, influenza, pneumonia, etc. are some of
the acute diseases.
 What is a Chronic Disease?
• The diseases that occur over a period of time and last
longer, or even for the lifetime are called chronic
diseases. Generally, if a disease lasts for more than three
years it is called a chronic disease. Initially, the symptoms
are very mild. A chronic disease progresses slowly and
damages the body severely. It might sometimes be fatal.
• The risk factors involved in such diseases may be age,
gender, an unhealthy lifestyle, etc. A chronic disease may
or may not be cured by medications. It cannot be
prevented by vaccines as well. Elephantiasis, Hepatitis C,
HIV, arthritis, diabetes mellitus are some of the chronic
diseases.
 INFECTION VS NON-INFECTION
What is a non-infectious
• tuberculosis.
What is an infectious disease? disease?
Infectious diseases are caused Non-infectious diseases are not
by pathogenic micro-organisms caused by pathogens and
such as bacteria, viruses, fungi therefore cannot be spread from
or parasites. These  one person to another. Instead,
micro-organisms are contagiou non-infectious diseases are
s
caused by factors such as
, meaning they can be
genetics, malnutrition,
transmitted from one person to
environment and lifestyle. 
another. 
Examples of non-infectious
Examples of infectious diseases
diseases include cancer,
include the common cold, 
Alzheimer’s disease and
COVID-19, SARS and
epilepsy. 
tuberculosis.
Different ways of spreading diseases.

• Infectious diseases can spread in a variety of

ways: through the air, from direct or indirect
contact with another person, soiled objects,
skin or mucous membrane, saliva, urine, blood
and body secretions, through sexual contact,
and through contaminated food and water.
 Pathogen Or Causative Agent
• The term disease causative agent usually refers to the
biological pathogen that causes a disease, such as a virus, parasite, fungus,
or bacterium. Technically, the term can also refer to a toxin or toxic
chemical that causes illness.
• The term pathogen came into use in the 1880s. Typically, the term is used
to describe an infectious microorganism or agent, such as
a virus, bacterium, protozoan, prion, viroid, or fungus. Small animals, such
as certain kinds of worms and insect larvae, can also produce disease.
However, these animals are usually, in common parlance, referred to
as parasites rather than pathogens. The scientific study of microscopic
organisms, including microscopic pathogenic organisms, is
called microbiology; while the study of disease that may include these
pathogens is called pathology. Parasitology, meanwhile, is the scientific
study of parasites and the organisms that host them. In the oldest and
broadest sense, is anything that can produce disease. A pathogen may also
be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ.
 Symptoms
• A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is
apparent to a patient, reflecting the presence of an unusual state,
or of a disease. A symptom can be subjective or objective.
Tiredness is a subjective symptom whereas cough or fever are
objective symptoms. In contrast to a symptom, a sign is a clue to a
disease elicited by an examiner or a doctor. For
example, paresthesia is a symptom (only the person experiencing
it can directly observe their own tingling feeling),
whereas erythema is a sign (anyone can confirm that the skin is
redder than usual). Symptoms and signs are often nonspecific, but
often combinations of them are at least suggestive of
certain diagnoses, helping to narrow down what may be wrong. In
other cases they are specific even to the point of
being pathognomonic.
 Transmission of Microorganisms

Microorganisms are transmitted in the following

ways and in combination:
• Direct contact
• Indirect contact
• Droplet particles
• Airborne particles
• Common vehicle
• Vectorborne
 Direct contact transmission:
• Direct contact transmission occurs when
microorganisms are transferred by direct
physical contact with an infected or colonized
individual. Direct contact is one of the most
common modes of transmission.
Indirect contact transmission:
• Indirect contact transmission involves transfer
of microorganisms via an object. Examples
include, hands not washed between residents,
contaminated gloves, objects in the resident’s
bed space or environment, medical
equipment, and/or contaminated instruments.
Indirect contact is also a common mode of
transmission.
 Droplet transmission:
• Droplet transmission involves large droplets, ≥
5 microns in diameter, that comes from the
respiratory tract during coughing or sneezing,
or during aerosol generating procedures such
as suctioning. These droplets are propelled a
short distance,
 Airborne transmission:
Airborne transmission is defined as the spread
of an infectious agent caused by the
dissemination of droplet nuclei (aerosols) that
remain infectious when suspended in air over
long distances and time.
Common vehicle transmission:
• Common vehicle transmission refers to
transmission through a contaminated source.
Examples include food, medication,
intravenous fluid, or shared equipment that
transmits infection to multiple hosts. This
transmission may result in a large-scale
outbreak.
 Vector borne transmission?
• Vectorborne transmission refers to infections
caused by animals and insects. Examples of
these infections include, West Nile Virus and
Dengue Fever. Appropriate facility
construction and maintenance, closed or
screened windows, and proper housekeeping
prevent Vectorborne transmission. This type
of transmission has not been reported in
Canadian hospitals.
 Methods of treatment of diseases
• Treatment depends on which microorganism causes the infection.
• If bacteria cause a disease, treatment with antibiotics usually kills
the bacteria and ends the infection.
• Viral infections are usually treated with supportive therapies, like
rest and increased fluid intake. Sometimes people benefit from
antiviral medications like oseltamivir phosphate.
• Doctors treat fungal and parasitic infections with antifungal
medications, like fluconazole , and anti parasitic drugs, such as
mebendazole.
• In all cases, doctors treat specific symptoms of infectious diseases
according to the latest medical guidelines. Talk with your doctor
about your symptoms to explore possible treatment options.
 What is Tuberculosis
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by
bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they
can also damage other parts of the body.
• TB spreads through the air when a person
with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes,
or talks.
 Some steps to prevent ourselves from
infectious diseases?
• Wash your hands often. This is especially important before and
after preparing food, before eating and after using the toilet.
• Get vaccinated. Immunization can drastically reduce your
chances of contracting many diseases. Keep your recommended
vaccinations up-to-date.
• Use antibiotics sensibly. Take antibiotics only when prescribed.
Unless otherwise directed, or unless you are allergic to them,
take all prescribed doses of your antibiotic, even if you begin to
feel better before you have completed the medication.
• Be smart about food preparation. Keep counters and other
kitchen surfaces clean when preparing meals. In addition,
promptly refrigerate leftovers. Don't let cooked foods remain at
room temperature for an extended period of time.
• Disinfect the 'hot zones' in your residence. These include the
kitchen and bathroom — two rooms that can have a high
concentration of bacteria and other infectious agents.
• Practice safer sex. Use condoms. Get tested for sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs), and have your partner get tested—
or, abstain altogether.
• Don't share personal items. Use your own toothbrush, comb or
razor blade. Avoid sharing drinking glasses or dining utensils.
• Travel wisely. Don't fly when you're ill. With so many people
confined to such a small area, you may infect other passengers
in the plane. And your trip won't be comfortable, either.
Depending on where your travels take you, talk to your doctor
about any special immunizations you may need. Stay at home if
you have signs and symptoms of an infection. Don't go to work
or class if you're vomiting, have diarrhea or are running a fever.