The following table can explain about the variuos communicable diseases :
| Disease |
Poliomyelitis (Polio) |
Typhoid |
Tonsillitis |
Tetanus |
Whooping cough (Pertussis) |
| Symptoms and Signs |
Slight fever, general discomfort, headache, stiff neck, stiff back. May result in paralysis of any part of body. |
Fever, headache, malaise |
Fever, cough, sore throat. |
Stiffness of jaw, spasms and Convulsions DiffictIty in swallowing. |
Cough becoming continuous at end of second week, whoop,frequent vomiting |
| Causes |
Virus |
Bacillus |
Streptococci |
Bacillus |
Bacillus |
| Manner of Infection |
Contact with infected people and articles used by them. |
Infected food and water, carriers, infected food handler. |
Contact with infected people and carriers. |
Through soil, street dust or articles contaminated with the bacillus following injury. |
Contact with infected people. |
| Incubation period (date of exposure to first sign) |
7-21 days |
7-21 days |
2-5 days |
5 days to 2 weeks. |
7 - 14 days. Commonly 10. |
| Period of communicability |
1 week from onset until fever disappears. |
Variable. |
About 10 days (during incubation period and illness. |
Not communicable person to person |
From onset of first symptom to about 4 weeks. |
| Most susceptible ages |
9 months to 5 years. |
Children and young adults. |
All ages. |
All ages |
Birth to 6 years. Uncommon after that. |
| Season and prevalence |
Summer. |
Summer. |
All seasons. |
All seasons. |
Winter and spring. |
| Duration |
Depends on seriousness of attack. |
6-12 weeks or longer. |
3-4 days. |
Depends on seriousness. |
About 2 months. |
| Treatment |
Isolation from onset till fever subsides. |
Proper disposal of stools and urine. Chloramphenicol or substitute for 3-4 weeks. |
Penicillin or substitute for 10 days. |
Hospitalization. |
Quarantine from susceptible family members. Antibiotics symptomatic. |
| Prevention |
Oral polio vaccine. |
Typhoid vaccine. |
None |
Tetanus toxoid separate or in DPT. Clean wound Immediately |
DPT. |
| Disease |
Chickenpox |
Diphtheria |
Measles |
German measles (Rubella) |
Mumps |
| Symptoms and Signs |
Begins with running nose, moderate fever, headache, malaise. Rash develops into successive clusters of blisters filled with clear fluid, which become encrusted and fall off. |
Fever, sore throat. Dirty white patches on tonsils (sometimes on throat) |
Rah which starts at hairline, preceded by mounting fever, dry cough, running nose and red eyes for 3-4 days. |
Mild fever,sore throat or cold. Symptoms may precede fine rose- coloured rash. Enlarged glands behind ears. |
Headache, chills, fever, swelling on both sides of jaw. |
| Site |
Trunk, face, neck. |
Tonsils, throat, larynx. |
Face, later whole body. |
Face and neck, then spreads to trunk and limbs. |
Both sides of jaw. |
| Manner of Infection |
Contact with infected people and articles used by them. |
Contact with infected people and articles used by them. |
Contact with infected people and articles used by them.. |
Contact with infected people. |
Contact with infected people and articles used by them. |
| Incubation period (date of exposure to first sign) |
11 to 21 days (usually only 13-17 days). |
Within a week after exposure. |
10-14 days. |
2-3 weeks. |
2-4 weeks. |
| Period of communicability |
Roughly first day before onset of symptoms, until scabs are crusted over. |
2-4 weeks after onset, until throat cultures are clear of virulent diphtheria bacilli. |
Till the rash begins to subside. |
1 day before onset until rash and fever disappear. |
Uncertain; about 1 week from onset or as long as fever persists. |
| Most susceptible ages. |
Any age, commonly young children. |
Common under 5-6 years. |
1 year to 5 years. |
Children and young adults. |
Children 5-15 years. Young adults. |
| Season of prevalence. |
Winter and spring. |
Spring and autumn. |
Spring, early summer |
Spring. |
Late winter, early spring. |
| Duration. |
1 – 2 weeks. |
Depends on seriousness. |
6-7 days. |
3-5 days. |
2-3 weeks. |
| Treatment. |
Nothing specific. Do not mix with other chidren till crusts dry. |
Quarantine. Isolation until 3 throat cultures are negative. Antitoxin and antibiotics. |
Avoid contact with other children till rash subsides. Antibiotics only in case of complications. |
Isolation not necessary except from a pregnant woman. |
No attempt should be made to prevent the disease in childhood. There are more complications in adolescents. |
| Prevention. |
No vaccine yet available. |
Inocubation with diphtheria toxoid in triple vaccine. |
Vaccine (not available in India). |
Vaccine (not available in India). |
Vaccine (not available in India). |
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