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Communicable diseases are diseases that you can "catch" from someone or

something else. Some people may use the words contagious or infectious when

talking about communicable diseases.

1. Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused

byRNAviruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae (the influenza viruses), thataffects birds and mammals.

SYMPTOMS

Chills

Fever

sore throat

muscle pains

severe headache

coughing

weakness/fatigue

general discomfort

CAUSE

pneumonia,which can be fatal, particularly for the young and the elderly

TREATMENT

When to seek helpMost people with the flu recover within one to two weeks

without treatment. However, serious complications of the flu can occur. Call your

doctor or nurse immediately if:

You feel short of breath or have trouble breathing

You have pain or pressure in your chest or stomach

You have signs of being dehydrated, such as dizziness when standing or not

passing urine

You feel confused

You cannot stop vomiting or you cannot drink enough fluids

In children, you should seek help if the child has any of the above or if the child:

Has blue or purplish skin color

Is so irritable that he or she does not want to be held

Does not have tears when crying (in infants)

Has a fever with a rash

Does not wake up easily

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-RNA.aspxhttp://www.news-medical.net/health/Pneumonia.aspxhttp://www.news-medical.net/health/Pneumonia.aspxhttp://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-RNA.aspxhttp://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-RNA.aspx

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2. Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a disease caused by bacteria spread

through the AIR FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER.

SYMPTOMS:

Nausea or vomiting

Jaundice yellowish skin or eyes, dark urine (orange/red urine is a normalside

effect and is not harmful)

Unexplained fever or tiredness

Tingling or numbness of hands or feet, or joint pains

Skin rash, itching skin or bruising

Visual changes or change in red-green colour vision.

CAUSES

bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released

into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of

tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings.

TREATMENTS (drug types, a doctor may prescribe multiple medications, including)

isoniazid

ethambutol (Myambutol)

pyrazinamide

rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)

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3. Malariais a preventable parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes.

Symptoms

Fever.

Chills.

Headache.Sweats.

Fatigue.

Nausea and vomiting.

Dry (nonproductive)

cough.

Muscle and/orback

pain.

Enlargedspleen

CAUSES

The release of merozoites into the bloodstream

Anemia resulting from the destruction of the red blood cells

Large amounts of freehemoglobin being released into circulation after red blood cells break

open

TREATMENT

The combination of quinidine or quinine plus doxycycline, tetracycline, or clindamycin

Atovaquone plus proguanil (Malarone)

Mefloquine or artesunate

The combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine (Fansidar)

4. Polio, short for Poliomyelitis, is an infectious disease caused by a virus that

invades the nervous system.

CAUSES

Direct person-to-person contact

Contact with infected mucus or phlegm from the nose or mouth

Contact with infected feces

SYMPTOMS

headache

sore, red throat

slightfever

vomiting

general discomfort

abnormal reflexes

problems swallowing and/or

breathing

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/weakness-and-fatigue-topic-overviewhttp://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomitinghttp://www.webmd.com/back-pain/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/back-pain/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/spleen-7445http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/anemia/overview.htmlhttp://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/hemoglobin/overview.htmlhttp://www.healthline.com/health/feverhttp://www.healthline.com/health/feverhttp://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/hemoglobin/overview.htmlhttp://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/anemia/overview.htmlhttp://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/spleen-7445http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/back-pain/default.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-nausea-vomitinghttp://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/weakness-and-fatigue-topic-overviewhttp://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/default.htm

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back and neck pain and stiffness,

particularly neck stiffness with

forward flexion of the neck

arm and leg pain or stiffness

muscle tenderness and spasms

TREATMENTS

rest

painkillers to relieveheadaches,muscle aches, and muscle spasms

antibiotics for urinary tract infections

portable ventilators to help with breathing

physical therapy and/or corrective braces to help with walking

heating pads or warm towels to ease muscle aches and spasms

5.

HEPATITIS is swelling and inflammation of the liver.

SYMPTOMS

fatigue

flu-like symptoms

dark urine

pale-colored stool

abdominal pain

loss of appetiteunexplained weight loss

yellow skin and eyes (may be signs ofjaundice)

CAUSE

liver damage from excessive alcohol consumption

TREATMENT

Most children receive the vaccination between ages 12 and 18 months.

Vaccination is also available for adults

http://www.healthline.com/health/headachehttp://www.healthline.com/health/jaundice-yellow-skinhttp://www.healthline.com/health/jaundice-yellow-skinhttp://www.healthline.com/health/headache