COMMUNICABLE DISEASE (additional LECTURES)

By: DR. CLEMENT JOHN FERDINAND M. NAVARRETE

MEASLES
o
The pathognomonic sign of measles is Kopliks spot which
can be seen by inspecting the buccal mucosa.
o
It is an airborne disease
German measles.
o
To prevent congenital rubella, women in the first
trimester of pregnancy in the barangay should avoid
crowded places, such as markets and movie houses.
o
Masks, gowns and gloves should be used by the nurse in
taking care of the client.
Hemophilus influenza
o
The microorganism which causes the most prevalent form
of meningitis among children 2-3 years of age.
Possible mode of transmission for influenza are through
o
direct contact e.g. droplet, indirect e.g. by articles
Contaminatedwith discharges of nose and throat of infected
person or it can also be transmitted AIRBORNE
o
Methods of Prevention and Control for influenza include
3 measures:
o
1.) Education of the public as to sanitary Hazard
from spitting, sneezing and coughing. 2.) Avoid use of
common towels, glasses and eating utensils. 3.) Active
Immunization with Influenza Vaccine

Acute poliomyelitis
>Is spread through the fecal
oral route and contact with throat secretions Classical sign
POKERS SIGN
> Diagnostic exam PANDYS TEST
Diphtheria
>is through direct and
indirect contact with respiratory secretions.
MALARIA
o
Human beings are the major reservoir of malaria
o
ZOOPROPHYLAXIS is done by putting animals like cattle or dogs close to
o
windows or doorways just before nightfall. The
Anopheles mosquito takes his blood meal from the animal and goes
back to its breeding place, thereby preventing
infection of humans
o
Mosquito-borne diseases are prevented mostly with the
use of mosquito control measures like:

Use of chemically treated mosquito nets

Seeding of breeding places with larva-eating fish

STREAM
SEEDINGis done by putting tilapia fry in streams or
other bodies of water identified as breeding places o
f the Anopheles mosquito

Destruction of breeding places of the mosquito

vector

Chicken pox
o
To prevent an outbreak in the community, quarantine
may be imposed by health authorities.
o
Chicken pox is usually more severe in adults than in
children. Complications, such as pneumonia, are higher in
incidence in adults

CHOLERA
o
Patients chief complaint is severe diarrhea and the
passage of rice water stools

Rubeola
o
Signs and symptoms includes:
Small blue-white spots with a red base
may appear in the mouth.
The rush usually begins behind the ears
and spreads downward toward the feet
The communicable period ranges from 10
days before the onset of symptoms to 15
days after the rash appears.
o
Protective precaution is required

Giardiasis
> Giardiasis is characterized by fat malabsorption
and, therefore, steatorrhea.

ROSEOLA INFANTUM
o
The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract,
so the child should be isolated from the other children as
much as possible.
infectious parotitis (mumps)
>may be serious in young adult males
>Epididymitis and orchitis are possible complications of
mumps. In post adolescent males, bilateral inflammation of the
testes and epididymis may cause sterility
o
The length of time required for respiratory precautions
are indicated during the period of communicability.
PERTUSSIS
o
HEALTH TEACHINGS MAY INCLUDE
We need to maintain respiratory
precautions and a quiet environment for at
least 2 weeks.
Coughing spells may be trigged by dust or
smoke.
we need to encourage our child to drink
fluids.
Viral conjunctivitis
>is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with discharges
from infected eyes.

Amoebiasis and bacillary dysentery

o
characterized by the presence of blood and/or mucus in the stools

SCHISTOSOMIASIS
o
Etiologic agent is Schistosoma JAPONICUM
Common in certain regions in the
Philippines which affects the small intestineand the liver. Liver dam
age is a consequence of fibrotic reactions to schistosoma eggs
in the live.The ova of the parasite get out of the human body together
with feces. Cutting the cycle at this stage is the mosteffective way of
preventing the spread of the disease to susceptible hosts.
o
Praziquantel (Biltricide) is the Drug of choice for all species of Sc
histosoma parasite
o
Snails of species Oncomelia Quadrasi is the most common intermed
iate host for Schistosomiasis
o
Classical sign katayama fever
FILIRIASIS
o
Causative agents are
Wuchereria bancrofti
Bruga malai
B. timori
Hepatitis A
o
Hepatitis A is transmitted through the fecal oral route
Hepatitis B
>Hepatitis B is transmitted through infected body secretions
like blood and semen.
Tetanus
o
Classical sign lock-jaw
Leptospirosis
>is transmitted through contact with the skin or mucou
s
membrane with water or moist soil contaminated

with urine of infected animals, like rats

Leprosy (hansens disease)
o
is a chronic skin and peripheral nerve disease caused by
Mycobacterium leprae
o
the mode of transmission of this disease are sexual
contact and droplet infection.
o
BCG can be administered to prevent the occurrence of
the Hansens disease
o
The following are early signs and symptoms of leprosy:
contractures
o
The following are late signs and symptoms of leprosy :
Muscle weakness or paralysis of extremities
o
The lesion of leprosy
is characterized by a change in skin color (either
reddish or whitish) and sensation, sweating and hair growth
over the lesion. Inability to close the eyelids (lagophthalmos)
and sinking of the nosebridge are late symptoms.
A multibacillary leprosy case is one who has a
positive slit skin smear and at least 5 skin lesio
ns.
o
Classical sign of LEPROSY are: Madarosis,
Lagopthalmos, Chronic ulcer
SCABIES
o
There would be presence of a multiple straight or wavy,
threadlike line beneath the skin upon assessment
and the nurse should institute wearing gown and gloves
when visiting and assessing a patient suspected with
scabies.
AIDS
o
WESTERN BLOT definitive test for AIDS which can
supplement ELIZA test which can give you a false or
negative result.
o
The most frequent causes of death among
clients with AIDS are opportunistic diseases:
Respiratory candidiasis
Infectious mononucleosis
Cytomegalovirus disease
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia characterized by tonsillopharyngitis
o
o

Contact tracing - BEST method that may be undertaken

by the public health nurse to determine possible
Antiretroviral agents, such as AZT, are used in the
management of AIDS sources of sexually transmitted
infections. Expected actions of this drugs are the
following:
They prolong the life of the client with
AIDS.

They reduce the risk of opportunistic

infections
There is no known treatment for AIDS - They shorten the period
of communicability of the disease.
-

Cytomegalovirus disease
o
is an acute viral disease characterized by fever, sore thro
at and lymphadenopathy
Herpes zoster (shingles)
o
Woods light examination is the definitive test for
shingles
o
Type of lesion - Clustered skin vesicles
pulmonary tuberculosis
o
caused by mycobacterium tuberculi.
A client is considered a PTB suspect when he has
o
cough for 2 weeks or more, plus one or more of the
following signs:
fever for 1 month or more; chest pain lasting for 2 week
s or more not attributed to other conditions; progressive
,unexplained weight loss; night sweats; and hemoptys
is.Directly Observed Treatment Short Course is socalled because a treatment partner, preferably a health
Workeraccessible to the client, monitors the clients
compliance to the treatment
o
proper technique for obtaining a sputum specimen
o
tuberculin skin test which has an area of induration
measuring 10mm or more in diameter indicates a
positive reaction and can indicate exposure to TB
o
BCG (BACILLUS CALMETE GUERIN) - This contains
live attenuated bacterial vaccine. Also considered as the
most stable vaccine.
o
A client with a positive Mantoux test result will be sent f
or a chest x- ray to determine if there is a primary or
secondary infection
Community-acquired pneumonia
o
Streptococcus pneumonia most common etiologic
agent of acute CAP
o
Classical features of pneumococcal pneumonia includes:
Abrupt onset accompanied by a single
rigor
G.I. symptoms
Pleuritic chest pain
Pneumonia
o
is also one of the most common nosocomial infections
accompanied by fever, chills, night sweats and chest pain
o
Caused by - Streptococcus pneumonia