Communicable diseases spread from person to person, often denoted by the phrase "catching a cold." These diseases are primarily common ailments, including pinkeye or the flu, affirms the Indiana State Department of Health. There are several causes of these transient diseases, which always work at the microscopic level. Taking preventive measures such as washing your hands can effectively reduce the proliferation of communicable diseases.
Bacteria
There are three common bacterial morphologies, which are coccus, bacillus and spirillum, according to the Astrographics website. The most abundant and well known is Staphylococcus bacterium, which naturally resides on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other organisms, the Online Textbook of Bacteriology website asserts. For example, Staphylococcus aureus, or S. aureus, causes a multitude of communicable diseases that can result in inflammation, swelling, redness and severe pain in infected skin. Over time, bacteria may become resistant to antibiotic treatments, which can result in superstrains such as MRSA, or menthicillin-resistant S. aureus, affirms the Centers for Disease Control. You can easily procure a bacterial disease by touching guard rails, escalator handles or doorknobs and touching your nose and mouth. These entry points allow bacteria to infect your body and quickly proliferate. The usual medicinal method is antibiotics to ward off the infection.
Viruses
Unlike bacteria, you cannot defeat viruses using antibiotics, but instead you can only treat the afflilated symptoms, such as the coughing and sneezing characteristic of the flu. Many communicable diseases propagate through viruses such as influenza, chickenpox or rubella, the New York State Department of Health reports. Viruses have the ability to replicate themselves by hijacking healthy white blood cells, for example, for continual viral generation, affirms the Live Science website. The body's immune system eventually quells a viral invasion; however, more serious diseases such as herpes or HIV are persistent fixtures within the body after contraction. Precautions include using contraceptives that eliminate the transfer of bodily fluid, washing your hands and avoiding highly populated areas. Those measures can help safeguard your health from contracting a viral communicable disease.
Fungi
Many common communicable diseases emerge in response to fungi. Ringworm, sporotrichosis and chromomycosis are among the most contracted fungi diseases, reports MedlinePlus. These primitive vegetables are exceedingly difficult to kill and can take multiple topical treatments to effectively eliminate them. Fungi live in a variety of areas, including in the air, in soil and on plants. Because they often reproduce by expelling tiny spores in the air, your lungs and skin are generally the points of infection. Generally, fungi communicable diseases are not that dangerous, such as ringworm or athlete's foot, where the outer layers of the skin exhibit infection. However, if systemic fungal infections appear, they have the ability to significantly impede vital organ function and can lead to death, reports Anaesthetist.com. Always wash your hands before eating or touching your face, especially if you garden. Always protect open wounds or sores with a Band-Aid to circumvent any fungal introduction.
