COMMUNICABLE HUMAN DISEASES

The word disease is a very broad term. It covers such a variety of conditions that we can speak of almost any deviation of the human body from normal as a disease. In other words any deviation from normal health leads to disease. A disease can also be defined as a disorder of the mind or body. It is opposed to health. It is not easy to classify all the human disease. However, they can be broadly divided into congenital and acquired disease. Congenital disease are present right from the birth and may result from metabolic disorder or defect in the development. Acquired disease are those which develop after birth. 

CLASSIFICATION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Communicable diseases may also be classified, according to the nature of the causative organism, such as diseases caused by bacteria, diseases by virus, diseases caused by protozoa, diseases caused by helminthes and diseases caused by fungus. 

Diseases caused by Bacteria

The important bacteria diseases to be discussed here are tuberculosis, typhoid, leprosy, cholera, diphtheria and tetanus. Some of these diseases are quite common, while some occur rarely. Some break out in the epidemic form while others do not. 

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is responsible for the loss of an enormous number of lives every year, being especially common among people who live in dingy, congested parts of large cities. Tuberculosis is caused by a small rod-shaped bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis spread by sputum from infected persons. The bacteria of tuberculosis invade any part of the body, multiply rapidly and destroy the tissues. Lungs are the favorite site of infection where small tubercles are formed. They release a toxin called tuberculin. The disease spreads mostly by throat and nose discharge from a person suffering from an active stage of disease. The symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are fever, cough, sputum containing blood, pain in the chest and loss of body weight. The incubation period is quite variable. These bacteria are so widespread that most person develop a tubercular infection of their lungs at some time during their life usually during youth. Most people overcome minor infections without knowing they had the disease; but if resistance is low, the Infection may spread and damage the lungs tissue extensively. 

The diagnosis of tuberculosis is made on the basis of positive tuberculin test, chest X-rays, positive sputum, gastric analysis, etc. Tuberculosis is not a hereditary disease. The modern treatment of tuberculosis id based on the six main factor: namely, rest, diet, drugs, surgery, rehabilitation and health education. Vaccination against tuberculosis with BCG vaccine provides considerable protection against the disease. The vaccine is injured in to the skin. There are also other measures in effective operation for the control of the disease. Medical and public health experts have cautioned that BCG vaccination should be used to supplement rather than replace other measures of control. To check the spread of the disease it is important that every patient is located and treated. Various government and private organizations are working for the eradication of tuberculosis in India. 

Tuberculosis is a disease that requires treatment in its early stages for best result. Young people, specially young women, between the ages of 17 and 25 years are most susceptible. Those who are exposed to tuberculosis, resident physician, medical students, nurses and hospital employees should be immunized against tuberculosis.