Contagious diseases quickly spread between individuals and can easily devastate an entire population. Sometimes, respiratory droplets are to blame for passing on the disease. For example, a person can sneeze, cough, laugh or talk and spray infected droplets to the next unsuspecting victim.
Measles
The measles virus is very contagious because it can infiltrate the mucosal tissues of the nose and throat, according to the Mayo Clinic. Specific measles symptoms include a dry cough, fever, light sensitivity, runny nose, skin rash and white spots with blue centers (Koplik spots) found in the cheek tissues. Also, a large skin rash develops. These symptoms typically develop 10 to 12 days after initial exposure to the measles virus.
People can receive the measles vaccine within three days of the virus exposure. Also, medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can reduce fevers while antibiotic medications can treat the pneumonia and ear infections that can result when suffering from the measles. Isolate the infected person so that he does not spread the measles virus to other people.
Chicken Pox
The chicken pox is an infectious disease that used to affect approximately four million children each year, says the Mayo Clinic. Less children are infected today with the advent of the chicken pox vaccine. Despite this, the chicken pox still remains very contagious.
Symptoms of the chicken pox include a red rash all over the body that appears to look like insect bites. Sometimes, small liquid-containing blisters can form, break and exude fluid. A headache, fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, irritability and a dry cough are other chicken pox symptoms.
Healthy children require no treatment. However, antihistamine medications may be used to calm the itching. Depending on the severity of the chicken pox, antiviral medications such as acyclovir and intravenous (through the vein) immune globulin may be used to treat the chicken pox.
Influenza
Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a contagious infectious disease affecting the respiratory tract. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease says that fever, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting are just some symptoms of influenza.
Influenza treatment involves rest and drinking plenty of fluids. Also, antiviral medications such as oseltamivir can be used to attack the virus the causes influenza.
