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Infectious respiratory diseases, how are they transmitted?

Infectious respiratory diseases, how are they transmitted?

Transmissible infectious diseases are today an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. However, the appearance of new pathologies or the different com

 

What do we understand by infectious disease?

 

Infectious diseases are all those caused by a microorganism such as fungi, protozoa, bacteria and viruses. This concept corresponds to the set of clinical manifestations produced by an infection.

 

Many of these pathologies are transmissible, that is, the infectious agent that causes them or their toxins can pass from an infected host (person with the microorganism) or inanimate reservoir (infected object), to a host susceptible to being infected (person who coming into contact with the microorganism can become infected).

 

These communicable diseases are today an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. However, the appearance of new pathologies or the different behavior of already known diseases show that all countries are vulnerable. Therefore, the prevention and control of these pathologies is a priority.

 

Control will be based on adopting a series of measures that help achieve a reduction in the transmission of the disease and reduce its incidence.

 

How can an infectious disease be transmitted?

 

Infectious diseases are transmitted by:

 

1. Contact:

It is one of the most important routes.

The contact can be:

Direct: requires body-to-body contact and the physical transfer of microorganisms between the infected person and the individual susceptible to infection. This occurs when bathing the patient, mobilizing him... regardless of whether he is an adult or a child.

Indirect: in this case, a contaminated object is the one that acts as an intermediary between the susceptible person and the infected person. These objects can be cutlery, toys, gloves, hands...

 

2. Droplet transmission:

The droplets are generated by a person by coughing, sneezing, talking...

Transmission occurs when droplets containing microorganisms are expelled a short distance through the air and are deposited on conjunctival and nasal mucosa or in the mouth of the host, for which close contact between the infected person and the susceptible person is required. to get infected.

In these cases, ventilation does not make sense since the droplets do not remain in suspension.

In this way the flu, mumps, adenoviruses are transmitted...

 

3. Air Transmission:

It is produced by the dissemination of evaporated air droplet nuclei or dust particles containing the microorganism. The particles remain suspended in the air and are carried by currents over large areas, until they are inhaled by a susceptible person.

In these cases, ventilation can be a good prevention method.

Some pathologies that are transmitted in this way are measles, chickenpox and tuberculosis.

 

4. Common Vehicle Transmission:

It is produced through contaminated objects such as water, food...

 

5. Vector transmission:

It occurs when microorganisms are transmitted by animals such as mosquitoes, flies, rats...

Respiratory infections are most frequently transmitted by the first three means. That is why we have to know what prevention measures must be put in each case.