Summary

In this study session, you have learned that:

1. Communicable diseases can be classified based on their clinical or epidemiologic features.
2. Clinical classification is based on the main clinical manifestations of the disease (e.g. diseases characterised by diarrhoea are classified as diarrheal diseases; diseases characterised by fever are febrile diseases).
3. Epidemiologic classifications are based on the mode of transmission and include foodborne, waterborne, airborne and vector-borne diseases.
4. Prevention and control measures for communicable diseases may target the reservoir of infection, the mode of transmission, or the susceptible host.
5. Measures against a human reservoir include treatment and isolation. Measures against animal reservoirs can be treatment or destroying the animal.
6. Measures against transmitters like food, water, other vehicles, and vectors, include hand washing with soap, effective use of latrines, destruction of breeding sites, disinfection, sterilisation and disinfestation.
7. Measures to protect susceptible hosts include vaccination, keeping personal hygiene, use of bed nets and use of condoms.
8. Community diagnosis of health problems involves data collection; data analysis; prioritising interventions based on the magnitude and severity of the problem, the feasibility of addressing it, and the level of concern; and making and implementing an effective action plan.