TABLE OF CONTENT
Communicable diseases definition
Non-communicable diseases definition
Differences between Communicable vs Non-communicable diseases
Examples of communicable diseases
Diarrhea
HIV/AIDS
Examples of Non-communicable diseases
Diabetes
Cancer
DEFINITION OF TERMS :
Non-communicable disease (NCD) :
A non - communicable disease is a disease that is not transmissible directly from one
person to another. Example Parkinson’s disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cataract and
others. NCDs may be chronic or acute.
Most are non-infectious, although there are some non-communicable diseases, such
as parasitic diseases in which the parasite’s life cycle does not include direct host-to-
host transmission.
Most non-communicable disease are cause due to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
However, other causes like mutations, heredity and environmental changes might
also tigger some non-communicable diseases.
Non-communicable diseases,are not seasonal and might occur at any time of the
year.
Diseases like cancer and diabetes might even be hereditary, which are inherited from
parents to the offsprings.
These diseases are also more chronicas the symptoms appear gradually and thus are
difficult to diagnose. Most of the non-communicable diseases pose severe and long-
lasting health effects on the patients.
Some chronic non-communicable diseases might even have periods of temporary
relapse where the disease disappears for a short period of time regularly only to
reappear again.
Non communicable disease are also found to be more sever, responsible for about
70 % of all deahs worldwide.
Ther are no specific treatments available for most non-communicable diseases, and
the available medicines simply prevent the disease from getting worse. Most non-
communicable disease are not curable.
Communicable diseases:
Communicable diseases are the diseases that are caused by infectious agents and can
be transmitted from an infected person to other people, animals, or other sources in the
environment.
Communicable diseases are also called infectious diseases or transmissible diseases.
These diseases are transmitted when the infectious agents are transmitted through
contact with contaminated surfaces, bodily fluids, blood products, insect bites, or
through the air.
The spread of infectious diseases might either be direct or indirect.
In the direct transmission, the infectious agent is transferred through close physical
contact, whereas in indirect transmission, the agent is transferred through air, water,
or other vectors.
After these agents enter the body of a healthy individual, the organism undergoes a
period of time called the incubation period. Once this period is over, the symptoms
of the disease begin to appear.
However, the disease appears when the organism escapes the immune system.
Communicable diseases might be seasonal where certain diseases occur at a certain
time in most cases, the immune system of the body tends to destroy infectious
agents. of the year. One example of this is malaria, which occurs mostly during the
breeding season of the female mosquito.
The symptoms of communicable diseases might differ with the nature of the disease;
however, the common symptoms are fever, diarrhea, headache, muscle ache, fatigue,
etc.
Most communicable diseases are acute diseases where the disease and symptoms
appear over a short time.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COMMUNICABLE AND NON-
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Communicable vs Non-
Non-communicable
communicable Communicable diseases
diseases
diseases
Communicable diseases are the Non-communicable diseases
diseases that are caused by are the diseases that are not
infectious agents and can be transferred from an infected
Definition transmitted from an infected person to another via any
person to other people, animals, means and are mostly caused
or other sources in the by factors like improper
environment. lifestyle and eating habits.
Non-communicable diseases
Communicable diseases are also
Also called are also known as chronic
known as infectious diseases.
diseases.
These are more likely to be
These are more likely to be acute, chronic, meaning they last
Progression
meaning they appear quickly. for a longer period of time
and progress gradually.
Non-communicable diseases
Some infectious diseases might
Seasonal are not seasonal and might
be seasonal.
occur at any time of the year.
These are caused by nutrition
Pathogenic microorganisms are
deficiency, hormonal
Cause the primary cause of
deficiency, or abnormal
communicable diseases.
proliferation of cells.
Communicable diseases cannot Non-communicable diseases
Inherited be inherited from one generation might be inherited from one
to another. generation to another.
Agents/Vectors Viruses, fungi, and bacteria act as There are no agents for
agents/vectors for infection and infection of non-
communicable diseases as
they primarily depend on the
transmission of such diseases.
personal diet, allergy, or
physical inactivity.
There are many reasons for the
spread of communicable diseases.
These do not spread from
Spread It can spread through the air, by
one person to another at all.
direct contact with a
contaminated surface, food, etc.
The most common
Non-communicable diseases
communicable diseases are those
are varied, such as
Organs affected of respiratory tracts, such as
cardiovascular disease,
common cold, influenza,
diabetes, etc.
tuberculosis.
Symptoms for non-
Symptoms of communicable communicable diseases may
diseases can be observed as not be observed until a year
Symptoms
quickly as a day or two from the or more, which increases the
entry of the pathogen. risk of the disease being
fatal.
These are more severe,
These are less severe, i.e. they responsible for more deaths
Severity develop quickly and pose a short- worldwide. These diseases
term threat to the patient. also have long-term effects
on the life of the patient.
There might be multiple
There are no periods for relapse
Relapse periods of relapse during the
for infectious diseases.
diseases.
For many communicable Accurate diagnostic tests are
Diagnosis diseases, accurate diagnostic tests not available for most non-
are available. communicable diseases.
These can be treated with a short These require prolonged
Treatment
treatment schedule. treatment.
Non-communicable diseases
Almost all communicable
such as cancer and diabetes
Curability diseases can be cured except for
do not have any specific
HIV/AIDS.
cure.
These can be prevented by some
conventional methods such as These need special surgical
Prevention
maintaining personal hygiene, operations for treatment.
avoid sharing eating utensils, etc.
Diseases like cancer,
Diseases like typhoid, cholera,
diabetes, Alzheimer’s
malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy are
Examples diseases, Down’s syndrome,
examples of communicable
Kwashiorker are examples of
diseases.
non-communicable diseases.
Examples of communicable diseases:
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a loose, watery, more frequent bowel movement, which is usually short-
lived, lasting no more than a few days.
Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhea in children. Other viruses causing diarrhea
include Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, and viral hepatitis.
Moreover, various other factors like some bacteria, medications, lactogen
intolerance, etc. can cause diarrhea.
Signs and symptoms associated with diarrhea include loose, watery stool, abdominal
cramps, and pain, fever, blood and mucus in the blood, etc.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration, which can be life-threatening if untreated.
Some of the common preventive measures would be washing hands frequently,
lathering hands with soap, maintaining healthy hygiene and sanitation.
Rotavirus can be cured by administering available vaccines. For traveler’s diarrhea, it
is up to the individual by being careful with what they eat and their hygiene.
HIV/AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-
threatening condition that is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection that weakens the immune system.
If left untreated, HIV will eventually turn into AIDS within 8 to 10 years.
It can spread through contact with blood, sexual contact, or from mother to child
during pregnancy.
Although the symptoms are less severe and phase-specific, most people develop a
flu-like illness within two to four weeks of the virus entering into the body.
Swollen lymph nodes are considered to be one of the first signs of HIV infection.
As the virus progresses, persistent white spots or unusual lesions may be seen on the
victim’s mouth.
Having unprotected sex, using IV drugs are among the greatest risk factors leading to
HIV infection.
As HIV weakens the immune system, the body is projected to a number of infections
such as pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), candidiasis, tuberculosis, and many more.
HIV doesn’t spread through ordinary contact such as hugging, kissing, or shaking
hands. The virus doesn’t spread through air, water or insect bites.
There are no vaccines for HIV and no cure for AIDS, but certain antibiotics can
significantly slow down its progression.
Examples of Non-communicable diseases
Diabetes
Diabetes is a non-communicable chronic condition where the glucose level or sugar
level of the blood is higher than normal.
Diabetes is of two types;
o Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immunity system destroys the body’s
own healthy cells like the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas,
mistaking them for foreign invaders.
o Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to use the produced insulin
effectively, which causes an increase in blood glucose levels.
Symptoms of diabetes are not apparent and usually appear gradually over a period of
time. By the time the symptoms appear, complications might be seen in the disease.
Diabetes is mostly seen in older men and is associated with unhealthy dietary habits.
Diabetes might even be heredity where it might transfer from one generation to
another.
There is no cure for the disease, but medications are available that control the
complications of the disease.
Cancer
Cancer is a non-communicable disease that consists of a number of diseases caused
due to uncontrolled division of cells with the potential of spreading to different parts
of the body.
The most common causes of cancer are tobacco use, obesity, poor diet, lack of
physical exercise, and intake of alcohol.
Some cancer might even be caused due to the genetic condition of the patient.
Symptoms like a lump, abnormal bleeding, rapid weight loss, and prolonged cough
might appear in many cancers. These symptoms might even have other causes.
The most important diagnostic test for cancer is the biopsy, where a part of the tissue
is examined for the detection of cancerous cells.
As in the case of most chronic diseases, maintaining a proper diet with regular
exercise can be employed as preventive measures for cancer
