Answer:
A communicable disease is a disease that spreads from one person or animal to another. Pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi cause these diseases.
This article will discuss what communicable diseases are, their symptoms, and how to avoid them.
What are communicable diseases?
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:
direct contact with a person carrying the pathogen
contact with contaminated fluids, such as blood, mucus, or saliva
inhaling contaminated droplets from another person’s cough or sneeze
receiving a bite from an animal or insect carrying the pathogen
consuming contaminated water or foods
Once a pathogen has entered a person’s body, it will begin replicating. The individual may then begin to experience symptoms.
Some symptoms are a direct result of the pathogen damaging the body’s cells. Others are due to the body’s immune response to the infection.
Communicable diseases are usually mild, and symptoms pass after a few days. However, some can be serious and potentially life threatening.
Types and symptoms
Four main types of pathogens cause infection: Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists.
