Most Essential Learning Competency: Lesson 7: Common Communicable Diseases
Most Essential Learning Competency: Lesson 7: Common Communicable Diseases
Hello Junior Explorer! How are you today? I hope you are staying healthy and safe.
Welcome to our HEALTH Class!
There is a very popular saying “Prevention is better than cure.” As you go along, you will notice
that the diseases you are experiencing or encountering can be prevented if you only know how to control them.
Accordingly, If you lack self-discipline, then prevention and control of diseases will be difficult to attain.
One thing is sure after learning from this unit, you will be challenged to become a catalyst for the control and
prevention of communicable diseases. Start with yourself, family, neighbor, community, and extend it to the nation. You
just need to consistently demonstrate personal responsibility and healthful practices in order to prevent and control
communicable diseases.
Our target is to let this knowledge be seen I your actions, words, and way of life. This is the best legacy you can
contribute not only to you and your family but to the whole nation. Lastly, I hope that you will enjoy going through this
guide. We always observe the signs and symptoms every time a person feels sick, in order to prevent the spread and
further developing of the infection. That person may also stay away or isolate him/herself and better to take advice from a
doctor or a physician. When a person is sick, its severity depends upon the extent of the infection.
Infection is the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not
normally present within the body. An infection may cause no symptoms and be subclinical, or it may cause symptoms and
be clinically apparent.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F
1. Pathogen (Agent) - It is an organism with the ability to cause diseases. Infectious agents are bacteria, virus, fungi,
protozoa and parasitic worms.
2. Reservoir - is a place within which microorganisms can thrive and reproduce.
3. Portal of Exit - the mode of transmission is the method by which the organism moves from one host to another.
4. Mode of Transmission - provides a way for a microorganism to leave the reservoir.
5. Portal of Entry - an opening allowing the microorganism to enter the host.
6. Susceptible Host - a person who cannot resist a microorganism invading the body lack due to immunity of physical
resistance to overcome the invasion by the pathogenic microorganism.
By understanding the chain of infection and the stages of infection, the sick person must intervene to prevent the
infection from developing any further. When a sick person acquires an infection, he/she must observe signs and symptoms
of infection and take appropriate actions to prevent the spread like staying away from other people, and taking the
doctor’s advice seriously. Infection follows a progressive course as explained above. The severity of the sick person’s
illness depends on the extent of the infection, the pathogenicity of the microorganism and susceptibility of the host.
A lot of people die every day because of different reasons and causes. Some die because of accidents, natural
death and some are because of different crimes committed by friends, enemies, even a family member out of a lot of
reasons. But there are also people die because of different diseases which some are communicable and acquired through
lifestyle.
https://www.doh.gov.ph/mortality
https://www.doh.gov.ph/morbidity
We discussed the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. And we have learned also that in
mortality, disease of the heart is the most leading according to the graph presented. When it comes to morbidity, acute
respiratory infection is the number one out of ten different leading causes. The causes of death statistics help health
authorities determine the focus of their public health action.
In order for us to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, everyone must know the common types of
communicable diseases particularly the signs and symptoms in order to identify the infected individual and will be given
proper assistance to prevent the spread of the disease. Some individual has less obvious signs and symptoms.
In some cases, children may not able to express their discomfort. Others, if they have high temperature, children
may express the condition of discomfort through crying, nagging, lack of energy and sometimes loss of appetite.
A communicable disease is any disease that passes between people or animals. People sometimes refer to
communicable diseases as “infectious” or “transmissible” diseases. Pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
protists, cause communicable diseases.
A person may develop a communicable disease after becoming infected by the pathogen. This may happen
through:
3
Influenza commonly Young children, older adults, pregnant women, and 1. Wash your hands.
called the flu is a viral people who have weakened immune system are 2. Avoid touching your face.
infection that attacks the highly susceptible to flue. Incubation period is 1-3 3. Clean frequently used surfaces.
respiratory system. This days. The common signs and symptoms are fever, 4. Use hand sanitizers when you
type of flue is not the same headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough, or other can’t wash your hands with soap
as the stomach “flu” virus respiratory manifestation and water.
that causes diarrhea and 5. Strengthen your immune
vomiting. system.
6. Stay home while sick to make
sure you don’t spread the cold to
others.
Tuberculosis is an It may affect the bones, meninges, joints, genito- 1.The BCG (Bacille
infectious disease that urinary tract, intestines, liver, kidneys, and the heart. CalmetteGuérin) is a live vaccine
primarily is an infectious Signs and symptoms are cough for two weeks or againsttuberculosis.
disease that primarily more, fever, chest or back pain not referable to other 2.Early diagnosis and treatment is
affects the lungs and this diseases, loss of weight and blood-streaked sputum. the most effective way to prevent
4
AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency means that the virus weakens the You can use strategies such as
Immunodeficiency immune system, causing the body’s inability to fight abstinence (not having sex), never
Syndrome is a chronic, diseases. Syndrome refers to a group of symptoms sharing needles.
sexually transmitted that indicate or characterize a disease. Cause Human
disease. Acquired means immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Signs and
that the disease is not Symptoms Early symptomatic infections are fever,
hereditary but it develops fatigue, swollen lymph nodes diarrhea, weight loss,
after birth from contact cough, shortness of breath. Primary infection (flu-
with a disease-causing like illness) occurs 3-6 weeks after acquiring
agent (in this case, HIV). infection in almost 50% of newly infected people
are; fever, muscle soreness, rash, headache, sore
throat, mouth or genital ulcers, swollen lymph
glands, mainly on the neck, Joint pain, Night sweats,
and Diarrhea.
Sexually transmitted Causes are bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Some of You can use strategies such as
infections (STIs) are the most common infections are; Gonorrhoea abstinence (not having sex), never
infections that are spread (caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae), Chlamydial sharing needles.
primarily from person-to- infections (caused by Chlamydia trachomatis),
person during sex. Syphilis (caused by Treponema pallidum, Chancroid
(caused by Haemophilusducreyi), Granuloma
inguinale or donovanosis (caused by Klebsiella
granulomatis, previously known as
Calymmatobacteriumgranulomatis) and AIDS
(caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus or
HIV), Genital herpes (caused by Herpes simplex
virus type 2), Genital warts and cervical cancer in
women (caused by human
15
papilloma virus Hepatitis (caused by Hepatitis B
virus); chronic cases may lead to cancer of the liver,
inflammation in the brain, the eye, and the bowel
(caused by cytomegalovirus), vaginal
trichomoniasis (caused by Trichomonas vaginalis),
Vaginal yeast infection or vulvovaginitis.Signs and
Symptoms Symptoms vary and some STIs exist
without symptoms. , soreness, unusual lumps or
5
We also have learned about the signs, symptoms and effects of common communicable diseases. There are
different communicable diseases in which the signs and symptoms are less obvious, but most of the diseases brings
discomfort and make a person unwell and uneasy.
Misconception is a wrong or inaccurate idea or conception.
Myths are a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a
people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon.
Beliefs are conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when
based on examination of evidence.
There are different myths and misconceptions we heard from our parents, grandparents and older individuals, and
most of us easily adopt and believe in it. There are also beliefs and practices at home being taught by elders regarding the
common communicable diseases on how and where they acquire it, just like for example, grandparents don’t allow their
young children to go outside when it is already 6’oclock in the afternoon because the bad spirits are out and they cause
harm to people. Stories like these bring fear and children easily believe in it.
To enlighten you about the myth, misconception and beliefs about communicable diseases, here are some of the myths
and facts about the different common communicable diseases.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) - present emerging infectious disease, COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new
coronavirus that was first identified in December 2019. The new coronavirus can be spread from person to
person. It is diagnosed with a laboratory test. There is no coronavirus vaccine yet. Prevention involves
frequent hand-washing, coughing into the bend of your elbow, staying home when you are sick and wearing a
cloth face covering if you can't practice physical distancing.
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (Ebola virus disease) - Ebola virus is an infectious agent and one of the viruses
that can cause haemorraghic fever, a severe infectious disease characterized by high fever and bleeding, in
humans and some monkeys. The first infections with this viral genus were reported in Zaire, close to the river
Ebola.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) - Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-
CoV) is a novel coronavirus discovered in 2012 and is responsible for acute respiratory syndrome in humans.
Chikungunya Virus - Chikungunya is an acute febrile illness with sudden onset of fever and joint pains,
particularly affecting the hands, wrists, ankles and feet. Most patients recover after a few days but in some
cases the joint pains may persist for weeks, months or even longer.
H1N1 Influenza Virus (Swine Flu) - H1N1 Swine flu is a subtype of influenza A virus (a communicable
viral disease), which causes upper, and potentially, lower respiratory tract infections in the host it infects,
resulting in symptoms such as nasal secretions, chills, fever, decreased appetite, and possibly lower respiratory
tract disease. H1N1 swine influenza is a common infection in pigs worldwide, and that is why it is also known
as swine flu. H1N1 swine flu leads to respiratory disease that can potentially infect the respiratory tract of
pigs. Sometimes, people who are closely associated with pigs or in the proximity of pigs have developed
swine flu (zoonotic swine flu).
AIDS (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) - HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the
body's immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life.
Severe Acute Respiratory Sydnrome (SARS) - Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral
respiratory disease caused by a SARS-associated coronavirus. It was first identified at the end of February
2003 during an outbreak that emerged in China and spread to 4 other countries. SARS is an airborne virus and
can spread through small droplets of saliva in a similar way to the cold and influenza. It was the first severe
and readily transmissible new disease to emerge in the 21st century and showed a clear capacity to spread
along the routes of international air travel. SARS can also be spread indirectly via surfaces that have been
touched by someone who is infected with the virus.
Tuberculosis - Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by strains of bacteria known as
mycobacteria. The disease most commonly affects the lungs and can be fatal if not treated. However, most
infected individuals show no disease symptoms.
YOUR TASKS!
CHOICES:
Enrichment Activity 2: Identify the different common communicable diseases. Choose answer from the box below.
Write only the letter of your answers. (5 points)
COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. It is a novel coronavirus discovered in 2012 and is responsible for acute A. Coronavirus (Covid-19)
respiratory syndrome in humans.
2. An acute febrile illness with sudden onset of fever and joint pains, B. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
particularly affecting the hands, wrists, ankles and feet. (MERS)
3. Infectious disease caused by strains of bacteria known as mycobacteria. C. Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever
4. It is an airborne virus and can spread through small droplets of saliva in D. Dengue
a similar way to the cold and influenza.
5. The disease caused by the new coronavirus that was first identified in E. Chikungunya Virus
December 2019.
6. An acute febrile illness with sudden onset of fever, followed by F. Severe Acute Respiratory
development of generalized symptoms and sometimes a macular skin rash. Syndrome (SARS)
It is known as “breakbone fever” because of severe muscle, joint and bone
pains.
7. It is an infectious agent and one of the viruses that can cause G. Hepatitis C
hemorrhagic fever, a severe infectious disease characterized by high fever
and bleeding, in humans and some monkeys.
8. A subtype of influenza A virus (a communicable viral disease), which H. AIDS (Human Immuno-deficiency
causes upper, and potentially, lower respiratory tract infections in the host Virus)
it infects, resulting in symptoms such as nasal secretions, chills, fever,
decreased appetite, and possibly lower respiratory tract disease.
8
WRAP-UP ACTIVITY
REFERENCES
Benavinte, R. J., et.al, 2013, Physical Education and Health Learner's Module. 2nd Floor Dorm G, PSC Complex
Meralco Avenue, Pasig City: Vicarish Publication and Trading, Inc.
Retrieved from Department of Education – Division of Gingoog City Division
https://www.nfid.org/infectious-diseases/myths-and-facts-about-influenza-for-consumers
https://choma.co.za/articles/403/myths-and-misconceptions-about-tb
This Student Learning Guide will be discussed during Online Consultation on the following schedule.
2nd Week of 3rd Quarter
Monday & Tuesday
1:00pm -3:00pm