Viral and bacterial infections are communicable diseases transmitted through the air, sexual contact, saliva and unsanitary public facility conditions. Some communicable diseases have a higher incidence during adolescence though adolescents are generally at optimal health because of their age. Still, hygiene, sexual behaviors, lifestyle and hormones act as confounding factors to the diseases to which they are most susceptible. The most common communicable diseases that affect adolescents are rarely life-threatening and can be easily treated.
The Common Cold
The common cold is the most common illness in the United States. It is most often caused by the rhinovirus or coronavirus, but as many as 200 viruses can cause cold-like symptoms. The symptoms of the common cold are usually runny nose, fatigue, aches and pains, chest congestion and nasal inflammation. MassGeneral Hospital for Children states that adolescents get colds four to five times a year. This is the most common reason why teens are absent from school. Colds are more common in the fall, winter and spring, which coincides with the academic school year. Cold temperatures do not necessarily cause the cold, but they facilitate it by bringing people indoors, in close contact with each other. Middle school and junior high classrooms have a high population density, increasing the rates of infection. There is no cure for the common cold and it usually lasts from three to five days.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease that occurs in adolescents at a higher rate than other age groups. The most common symptoms of chlamydia are pain during urination and yellow or white discharge. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, it is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States, with around 2.8 million new cases each year. Chlamydia occurs in males and females at a similar rate, but females are more likely to be diagnosed due to regular sexual health check-ups, such as pap smears. Chlamydia occurs at higher rates amongst adolescents, partly because of a limited understanding of sexual health and safe sexual practices. Chlamydia is a curable disease, most often treated with antibiotics such as azithromycin or doxycycline.
Mononucleosis
Mononucleosis, commonly known as mono, is a viral disease that affects the white blood cells in the body. It is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus which is a type of herpes. The symptoms include fever, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, headache, enlarged spleen or liver, reduced appetite, weight loss and fatigue. Mononucleosis is spread person-to-person through saliva, such as kissing or sharing food and beverages. Adolescents do not have a higher incidence or prevalence of mononucleosis, but they exhibit the most debilitating symptoms. Younger children exposed to the virus do not develop symptoms as severe and are usually protected from repeat infection as teenagers due to lifelong antibodies. There is no cure for mononucleosis and once infected, it is carried dormant within the body for life. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids and eating a well-balanced diet. This allows the body to allocate its limited resources to the infection instead of daily physical exertion.
References
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children: Colds and Flu
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: Causes of the Common Cold
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance, 2007
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Infectious Mononucleosis
- New York State Department of Health: Infectious Mononucleosis
