CBSE
Class 10
Class 12
Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites and can spread between individuals. Microorganisms that cause disease are collectively called pathogens.
Pathogens cause disease either by disrupting the bodies normal processes and/or stimulating the immune system to produce a defensive response, resulting in high fever, inflammation and other symptoms.
Infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another, for example through contact with bodily fluids, by aerosols (through coughing and sneezing), or via a vector, for example, a mosquito.
Infectious diseases can be caused by:
Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites and can spread between individuals. Microorganisms that cause disease are collectively called pathogens.
Pathogens cause disease either by disrupting the bodies normal processes and/or stimulating the immune system to produce a defensive response, resulting in high fever, inflammation and other symptoms.
Infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another, for example through contact with bodily fluids, by aerosols (through coughing and sneezing), or via a vector, for example, a mosquito.
Infectious diseases can be caused by:
Means of Spread of Infectious Diseases Infectious diseases spread from an infected person to a healthy person through the air, water, food, vectors, physical contact and sexual contact.
AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome)
AIDS is caused by a retrovirus called HIV (Human Immuno Deficiency Virus).
Method of transmission of AIDS: The transmission of AIDS from an infected to a healthy person takes place :
Prevention :
Disease-causing microbes enter the body by different means and go to different organs and tissues.
There are two ways of prevention of infectious diseases. They are general ways and specific ways.
General ways of prevention:- Public hygiene is most important for prevention of infectious diseases. Proper and sufficient food for every one will make people healthy to resist infection. Airborne diseases can be prevented by living in conditions that are not crowded. Waterborne diseases can be prevented by providing safe drinking water. Vector-borne diseases can be prevented by providing a clean environment.
Specific ways of prevention:- The specific ways to prevent infectious disease is immunisation by taking vaccines. Vaccines provide immunity from infectious diseases like tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, polio etc. Our body has an immune system which fights microbial infection. When this system first sees an infectious microbe, it kills the microbe and remembers it. So if the microbe enters the body the next time, it responds more vigorously. Vaccines mimic the infectious microbe and strengthen our immune system and protect the body from infectious diseases.
The treatment of infectious diseases consists of two steps. They are to reduce the effects of the disease (symptoms) and to kill the microbes which caused the disease.