By Caroline
Communicable diseases are the common infection which gets transferred from person to person in contact within hours. Though the first sign or symptom in the newly infected person may take time to appear based on the immune system. The infection causing agents could be any microbial living organism such as Virus, Bacteria, fungi or protozoa. They commonly live in air, water or soil. Plants, birds or animals can also be hosts for these microbes to infect the human body. Kids or children are prone to infest communicable disease rapidly due to their developing immune system. This article guides the parents to understand the mode of infection and take precautionary steps to prevent it.
Malaria:
The most common communicable disease which transfers through mosquitoes. A bite from an infected person to non-infected person is the mode of transmission. It is preventable and curable.
Symptoms: The onset duration may vary between 5 days to 15 days based on the immune system. Mild symptoms are fever, chills and headache. Severe symptoms include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
Prevention: Keeping the house and surrounding clean kick starts the prevention of mosquito growth rates. Ensure to remove all the stagnant water around which keeps the mosquitoes away. Studies show that malnutrition children are at higher risk of getting infected with malaria. Always having a Nutrition rich food style plays a vital role by boosting the immune system which fights against the foreign bodies entering the body.
Diarrhea:
The term “Diarrhea” may sound so familiar in this modern era but if not treated, it turns into life threatening. The second most common infection identified among children is Diarrhea. Both Bacteria and Virus cause the infection in the human body. They spread through water, food, soil, air and person- to- person contact. It is preventable and curable.
The symptoms include watery stool more than twice a day which leads to dehydration. Consumption of fluid foods may reduce the risk of infection.
The precautionary steps include good hygiene practices like washing the hands with antiseptic solutions or hand wash, heating the food before consuming and drinking boiled water.
Measles:
Measles is a communicable disease spread by viruses. They spread through air. The onset duration of infection will be for two to three weeks. The symptoms include fever, tiredness, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes and rashes. The rash starts on the face, spreads down to the body and lasts for 4-7 days. Young children (especially infants) may also experience diarrhea. The symptoms of measles usually start 10 days after being exposed to the virus. Contacting the physician for vaccination is advisable to prevent the infection.
Conclusion:
Building the immunity system at a younger age is mandatory for a healthy future. Consumption of fruits, home processed foods, food juices over soft drinks can start building the immune system by providing the necessary nutrients for growth and development. Choosing the right food at the right time plays a vital role in preventing many communicable diseases.
References:
1. https://www.unicef.org/stories/5-actions-malaria-free-world
2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease.
3. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Factsheets/measles.pdf
