Infectious vs. Non-Infectious Diseases: Prevention and Treatment

Posted on Mar 3, 2025 in Geology

Understanding Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases

DISEASE TYPES: Infectious diseases can manifest rapidly and last a short time (acute). Others develop slowly and last much longer (chronic). Diseases like strokes are sporadic. Usual and unique diseases in a precise region are endemic. An epidemic occurs when a disease attacks many people during a specific time period. When epidemics affect many countries or the entire world, it’s a pandemic.

Infectious Agents

  • Viruses: Measles, hepatitis, rabies, AIDS.
  • Bacteria: Tuberculosis, cholera, diphtheria, tetanus.
  • Fungi: Athlete’s foot, candidiasis.
  • Protozoa: Malaria, sleeping sickness.

Routes of Transmission

Infectious diseases can spread through:

  • Direct contact: Such as measles or sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Inert objects: Handkerchiefs, glasses, utensils contaminated with saliva.
  • Contaminated water: Ingestion of contaminated water.
  • Contaminated food: Ingestion of food contaminated by pathogens (e.g., salmonellosis).
  • Airborne particles: Pathogens located in dust particles that float freely in the air (e.g., tuberculosis).
  • Animal vectors: Insects that introduce the organism into a healthy organism.

Body’s Defense Mechanisms

The body has external and internal defense mechanisms.

External Defenses (Passive Barriers)

These are the first line of defense and prevent pathogens from entering the body:

  • Structural: Skin and mucous membranes prevent the entry of microorganisms.
  • Biochemical: Saliva, tears, and gastric juice destroy most microorganisms. Sebaceous glands secrete substances that impede microbial growth.
  • Mechanical: Movements that sweep microorganisms and foreign particles out of the body (e.g., cilia, flow).
  • Ecological: Ecological barriers.

Internal Defenses

After microorganisms cross the passive barriers, internal immune defenses are mobilized:

  • Non-specific defenses: Phagocytes capture and eliminate pathogenic microorganisms.
  • Specific defenses: Act against foreign molecules (antigens). Cells produce antibodies that inactivate or destroy the invading agents.

PREVENTION OF DISEASES

  • Wash hands frequently.
  • Consume safe and properly prepared food.
  • Drink clean water.
  • Maintain domestic animals in good health.
  • Keep surroundings clean and disinfected.
  • Get adequate sleep.
  • Avoid consumption of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.
  • Use medications with caution.

Vaccination

Vaccination is a very effective preventive method against infectious diseases. It has saved countless lives and even eradicated diseases like smallpox.

Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Serotherapy

Involves introducing antibodies into the body of a sick person. These antibodies are specific to the microbe and produced by another animal or person. These antibodies are identical to those the organism would produce itself (e.g., for tetanus or rabies).

Chemotherapy

Based on the administration of medications that act against microbes. These can be microbicidal (destroy microbes) or microbiostatic (prevent their reproduction).

Non-Infectious Diseases

  • Diseases Affecting Organ Function: Such as heart or circulatory diseases (e.g., vascular diseases), respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma or bronchitis), and joint diseases (e.g., arthritis or osteoarthritis).
  • Cancer: Occurs when some cells undergo a transformation and divide rapidly and uncontrollably. Benign tumors are localized. Malignant cancers are not.
  • Traumatic Diseases: Lesions caused by accidents (e.g., domestic, work-related, or sports-related).
  • Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases: Produced by excessive or deficient hormone secretion (e.g., diabetes or obesity).
  • Mental and Behavioral Disorders: Alterations in behavior or physical conditions originating from emotional or psychological issues.
  • Genetic Diseases: Hereditary diseases.

Prevention of Non-Infectious Diseases

  • Do not smoke.
  • Avoid eating food cooked with reused oil.
  • Avoid excessive consumption of smoked foods.
  • Avoid unprotected sun exposure.
  • Undergo regular medical examinations.
  • Maintain a balanced diet.
  • Engage in physical exercise.
  • Get adequate rest.
  • Adopt correct posture when standing.
  • Respect traffic and workplace safety rules.