10 ways to prevent communicable diseases

Apply more and repeat. Rub hands for at least 20 seconds. Lyme disease can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system if a person does not treat it. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Many bacteria are harmless, and some help the body to function. The following precautions will help kill microbes that are present in the food you buy and help you avoid introducing new microbes into your food at home: Whether you are young or young at heart, getting vaccinated is an essential part of staying healthy. Xiong WM, Xu QP, Li X, Xiao RD, Cai L, He F. The association between human papillomavirus infection and lung cancer: a system review and meta-analysis. Some vaccinations require booster shots (such as tetanus and polio) at certain intervals to maintain immunity. Prevent infection before it begins and avoid spreading it to others with these easy measures. #1 Handle & Prepare Food Safely #2 Wash Hands Often #3 Clean & Disinfect Commonly Used Surfaces #4 Cough and Sneeze into a Tissue or Your Sleeve #5 Don't Share Personal Items #6 Get Vaccinated #7 Avoid Touching Wild Animals 1. For more in-depth information and resources on HIV and AIDS, visit our dedicated hub. Communicable diseases are diseases that can pass from person to person. Haque M, Sartelli M, Mckimm J, Abu bakar M. Health care-associated infections - an overview. Others are spread by airborne transmission in which tiny aerosol particles can travel for longer distances to infect others. NCDs can be prevented by controlling major risk factors like the harmful use of tobacco, alcohol consumption or obesity, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin. Your immune system is designed to have a "memory" of previous infections, enabling a rapid response (in the form of specific antibodies, B cells, or T cells) if the pathogen ever returns. Not. Warnings If you suspect you have an infectious disease, consult your doctor immediately. They can include: The only way a person can be certain they have HIV is to have an HIV test. They often infest animals, including field mice and deer. How to prevent transmission washing their hands thoroughly and regularly. For anal sex, use a latex or polyurethane male condom. Because they house people with numerous diseases and infections, hospitals can become breeding grounds for infections, including hard-to-treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion offers exercise recommendations for every age group from children to seniors. Avoiding infections is an important aspect of preventing both the short-term inconvenience of being sick, the long-term complications, and reducing the risk of spreading infections to others who might be especially vulnerable to severe illness. Cardiovascular health: Insomnia linked to greater risk of heart attack. Integrative medicine physician Irina Todorov, MD, offers nine ways to prevent diseases and how to take care of yourself so you can live your healthiest, best life. 1 /14. Wash your hands before and after handling food. Last Updated: February 19, 2023 27 Sources By Ingrid Koo, PhD Other wild animals can also transmit rabies and other infections. 10 Ways to Reduce Risk of Zoonotic Diseases. Fortunately, you can help reduce the spread of infection in your facility by following these steps, reports the World Health Organization (WHO). Living in an affluent country like the United States, the threat we face from deadly viruses, bacteria, and parasites can seem remote, but these infectious microbes are ever present among us, according to Dr. Michael Klompas, writing in the Harvard Medical School Special Health ReportViruses and Disease. Watch the area closely for a couple of weeks for signs of rash or swelling. While many pathogens have a low risk of transmission via fomites, there are some that are potentially spread this way. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 163,725 times. MMWR. Your doctor can diagnose bacterial versus viral infection and treat it appropriately. Experts agree that with just a few steps and some healthy habits, you can keep many germs and illnesses at bay. 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can often be prevented by using condoms consistently and limiting your number of sex partners. To help prevent these problems, drink fluoridated water, brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and floss daily. The severity can range from mild to fatal. The faeces may be passed: directly from soiled hands to the mouth indirectly by way of objects, surfaces, food or water soiled with faeces. Maintain Personal Hygiene Always wear a mask or a scarf around your mouth and nose to limit the transmission of any infectious disease. Hand washing should be the cornerstone of reducing HAIs. What is the latest research on the form of cancer Jimmy Carter has? Similarly, rhinoviruses are spread by people touching their nose, eyes, or mouth after touching items or surfaces that have come into contact with the virus. Many serious infections can be prevented by immunization. Defrost foods only in the refrigerator or in the microwave. Vaccinescan prevent many infectious diseases. 2023 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy. Fungal infections can occur anywhere in the body. Good hygiene: the primary way to prevent infections The first line of defense is to keep germs at bay by following good personal hygiene habits. Here's Why This Year's Flu Season Is the Worst in Over a Decade, How to Prevent and Treat Infectious Colitis. References With this in place, your immune system may be better able to defend against some mild community-spread infections. They typically spread through contaminated foods, such as uncooked meats and eggs, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and contaminated water sources. By being smart about safe sex (using condoms), transfer of infectious bacteria or viruses from one person to another can be prevented. Learn these healthy habits to protect yourself from disease and prevent germs and infectious diseases from spreading. Hand washing with soap and water is the simplest and one of the most effective ways to prevent transmission of many communicable diseases (Figure 2.5). Protect yourself against infections that are carrier by vectors such as mosquitos by taking precautions, such as sleeping in mosquito netting, using bug spray, and wearing long-sleeved clothing. A person can contract HIV as a result of contact with blood or other body fluids containing the virus. Food should be stored at safe temperatures (refrigerated if needed) and thrown out if you doubt their quality. Traveler's health: food and water safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Keeping personal hygiene, like taking a daily bath and washing your hands frequently. Another way to prevent infection is to live a lifestyle that keeps you healthy: Eat a healthy diet, get routine exercise, and engage in stress reduction. Wash your hands and clean shared surfaces often if you are sick in order to minimize transmission of germs. Make sure that your pets vaccinations are up-to-date. Cook and keep foods at proper temperatures. Get vaccinated 3. Both you and your partner should be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. You can prevent infections by food-borne pathogens in your household by preparing and storing foods safely. Ann Intern Med. Very serious and threatening fungal infections are treated with oral medications or injections. Taking antibiotics when you dont need them (such as when you have a viral infection) increases bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Mix 1 teaspoon peroxide with 1 cup water and dip your toothbrush into the solution before brushing your teeth. Are hospital floors an underappreciated reservoir for transmission of health care-associated pathogens? However, they can still transmit the pathogen. Bring antiseptic wipes or handwash (or ask the hospital to provide them for you). Not long ago, no one understood that infectious diseases were caused by tiny organisms that moved from person to person. Hot food should be eaten when it is prepared and, if it needs to be stored, kept either hot (as in buffets) or refrigerated as soon as possible to keep pathogens from multiplying. Make sure you and your family are up-to-date on your vaccinations. Agents that cause communicable diseases, called pathogens, are easily spread by direct or indirect contact.These pathogens include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.Some pathogens make toxins that harm the body's organs. Without proper treatment, malaria can be life threatening. Bring a germ-filtering mask if you are in a semiprivate room or ward. More than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. every year. . Drink only bottled drinkssuch as soft drinks or bottled waterthat have secure caps. Avoid direct contact with napkins, tissues, handkerchiefs, or similar items used by others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10. If a tissue is not available, cover your mouth or nose with your elbow. These medications can help to kill bacteria or slow them down so the immune system can counteract them. Take Care of Your Teeth Oral diseaseswhich range from cavities and gum disease to oral cancercause pain and disability for millions of Americans. Get your shots before you leave the United States. 2017;8(56):96419-96432. Non-communicable diseases, also known as chronic diseases or non-infectious diseases, are not caused by infectious agents but are instead the result of various non-infectious factors such as lifestyle choices, heredity, and environmental factors. The protozoa Plasmodium genus causes the tropical disease malaria. Viruses are tiny pathogens that contain genetic material. Some symptoms of these infections include: Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that primarily attacks the lungs. Do not stir up dust in rodent-infested areas. Infectious diseases are reported worldwide, and the emergence of highly mutated antibiotic-resistant strains is a major concern globally. 3. Many respiratory infections are spread by droplets that can infect people who are nearby. Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that affect the respiratory system. Using hand sanitizers is also helpful. If a person already has a virus, they may require antiviral medications to keep the virus under control. The bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi causes the majority of Lyme disease cases. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your shirt sleeve-not into your hands.