common communicable diseases.
---
Measles
Cause: Measles virus (paramyxovirus family).
Symptoms: Fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis, and characteristic rash (Koplik spots).
Transmission: Airborne via droplets.
Prevention: MMR vaccine.
---
Chickenpox
Cause: Varicella-zoster virus.
Symptoms: Fever, malaise, and vesicular rash.
Transmission: Airborne or direct contact with vesicle fluid.
Prevention: Varicella vaccine.
---
Diphtheria
Cause: Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Symptoms: Sore throat, pseudomembrane formation, and potential airway obstruction.
Transmission: Droplets.
Prevention: DPT vaccine.
---
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Cause: Bordetella pertussis.
Symptoms: Severe coughing fits with a "whooping" sound.
Transmission: Droplets.
Prevention: DPT vaccine.
---
Tetanus
Cause: Clostridium tetani toxin.
Symptoms: Muscle rigidity, spasms (lockjaw).
Transmission: Wound contamination.
Prevention: Tetanus toxoid vaccine.
---
Poliomyelitis
Cause: Poliovirus.
Symptoms: Fever, paralysis in severe cases.
Transmission: Fecal-oral route.
Prevention: OPV/IPV vaccine.
---
Tuberculosis
Cause: Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Symptoms: Chronic cough, weight loss, fever, night sweats.
Transmission: Airborne.
Prevention: BCG vaccine.
---
Typhoid
Cause: Salmonella typhi.
Symptoms: Prolonged fever, abdominal pain, constipation/diarrhea.
Transmission: Fecal-oral route.
Prevention: Typhoid vaccine, hygiene practices.
---
Leprosy
Cause: Mycobacterium leprae.
Symptoms: Skin lesions, nerve damage, deformities.
Transmission: Prolonged close contact.
Prevention: Early treatment with MDT.
---
Dengue
Cause: Dengue virus (Aedes mosquito vector).
Symptoms: High fever, headache, joint pain, rash, bleeding.
Transmission: Mosquito bite.
Prevention: Mosquito control, dengue vaccine.
---
Malaria
Cause: Plasmodium species (mosquito vector).
Symptoms: Cyclic fever, chills, anemia.
Transmission: Mosquito bite.
Prevention: Mosquito nets, antimalarial drugs.
---
Kala-Azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis)
Cause: Leishmania donovani (sandfly vector).
Symptoms: Fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly.
Transmission: Sandfly bite.
Prevention: Vector control.
---
Zika Virus Disease
Cause: Zika virus (Aedes mosquito vector).
Symptoms: Fever, rash, conjunctivitis; risk of congenital defects.
Transmission: Mosquito bite, sexual transmission.
Prevention: Mosquito control.
---
Scrub Typhus
Cause: Orientia tsutsugamushi.
Symptoms: Fever, rash, eschar at bite site.
Transmission: Chigger mite bite.
Prevention: Protective clothing, insect repellents.
---
Swine Flu
Cause: H1N1 influenza virus.
Symptoms: Fever, cough, body aches, respiratory distress.
Transmission: Airborne.
Prevention: Annual flu vaccine.
---
COVID-19 Infection
Cause: SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Symptoms: Fever, cough, loss of smell/taste, respiratory distress.
Transmission: Droplets, contact.
Prevention: Vaccination, masking, hygiene.
---
HIV in Children
Cause: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Symptoms: Failure to thrive, recurrent infections.
Transmission: Mother-to-child, transfusion.
Prevention: PMTCT programs, ART.
---
Treatment of Opportunistic Infections
Conditions: Infections in immunocompromised (e.g., TB, candidiasis).
Management: Antimicrobials and immune restoration.
---
Amebiasis
Cause: Entamoeba histolytica.
Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal pain, liver abscess.
Transmission: Fecal-oral route.
Prevention: Safe drinking water.
---
Giardiasis
Cause: Giardia lamblia.
Symptoms: Diarrhea, bloating, weight loss.
Transmission: Contaminated water.
Prevention: Water sanitation.
---
Filariasis
Cause: Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia species.
Symptoms: Elephantiasis, lymphedema.
Transmission: Mosquito bite.
Prevention: Vector control, DEC prophylaxis.
---