The disease which does not require any medium but air to travel and affect someone by breathing those particles, such type of illnesses are called AIRBORNE DISEASES.
These airborne particles can be either dry particles or can be droplets like mucus or secretions by cough.
It can be spread when people who have infections; cough, spit or sneeze in air. From there they are carried by air and affect the person with either low immunity or having favorable environments.
After inhaling these airborne pathogens, they start mutating inside you and start producing infections. They have the ability to make us ill. Sometimes these airborne particles settle down on surfaces and people catch them by touching, sitting or eating contaminated things.
How are these airborne diseases transmitted?
These types of diseases which are due to airborne particles are hard to control. These particles are transmitted through breathing as well as direct person to person and person to animal; being a host and containing the virus, bacteria or any pathogenic organism. Airborne diseases not just affect humans but also the animals. These infections can not be controlled easily as they are carried by air and surfaces. They can easily be transmitted by touching your face, eyes, nose , shaking hands and touching clothes or other contaminated objects.
What are the factors responsible ?
Another factor for airborne diseases is weather. Whenever a virus or bacteria gets favorable weather and conditions, it starts mutating and producing. Many diseases are connected with seasons, and come over by them.
Just like the rainy season plays a role in spreading airborne particles. As the humidity level makes the particles travel easily.
Another factor is unhygienic food or unclean places. Like dust on the table increases ventilatory issues and nasal congestion. Some places have water and water is one of the important ways to transmit diseases. When that water evaporates, it carries germs with them.
Flies also carry those germs by sitting on those places and contaminated water.
DISEASES CAUSED BY AIRBORNE PARTICLES
Wide range of diseases are caused by airborne pathogens, some of them are :
COVID-19 or CORONAVIRUS
Sudden pandemic wide spreading disease around is NOVEL CORONAVIRUS. It is a type of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Virus. The main reason for spreading this virus is direct contact with the infected person as the symptoms are shown in 7 to 14 days. The information on this disease is being updated time by time.
Symptoms for this virus are flu, cough, fever, fatigue, weakness and difficulty in breathing.
COMMON COLD
Cold is caused by Rhinovirus. This cold is seasonal sometimes to many people.
In winters many people get affected by common cold which further develops another disease which leads to death. This cold sometimes weakens the immune system which is a platform for many harmful diseases.
INFLUENZA
Everybody around the globe comes to have the “FLU” , anytime or sometimes seasonally. There are types of flu which depend on whether the person is healthy, has any hidden disease or just recovered from a disease and so the effects of flu also varies. It spreads so easily as the particles are light and airborne. It spreads from person to person and keeps developing difficulties to drop immunity.
CHICKEN POX
Chickenpox is caused by varicella virus. After getting this virus you start getting itchy telltale rashes on your body.
Many people get this infection once in their lifetime. It can also be spread by person to person contact.
This disease can also re-active after years and triggers a painful illness called “Shingles”. It can be complicated into infections like pne and multiple skin infections.
MEASLES
Measles is one of the leading causes for child deaths all over the world. It is a contagious disease for crowded places. The rash of measles shows up in 4 days after developing. The symptoms followed by rashes are red eyes, sore throat fever and cough.
MUMPS
A huge type of viral infection which affects salivary glands. This condition has no noticeable symptoms, other than occurring swollen cheeks, pain in ear, facial pain and pain in jaw.
Not getting it treated might give rise to dangerous complications like meningitis (spinal cord inflammation), encephalitis (brain inflammation), orchitis (swelling in testicles) and gradually, loss of hearing.
TUBERCULOSIS
Known as TB. This is an airborne disease and spreads easily if you have close contact time for a long period with an infected person. This weakens the immune system which develops risks of multiple diseases.
This bacteria directly attacks lungs and lymph nodes. It takes years to develop this condition fully.
Prevention from Airborne Diseases
Prevention from air spreading diseases is simple and everyone should make a habit to make lifestyle better.
Although, still it’s possible to get these infections as they travel by air but by taking following measures we can lower the risk of affection. Some of the important measures to implement during normal routine are :
- Avoiding close contact with infected people or who show symptoms of diseases or who recently recovered from any re-emerging illness.
- If you’re sick, stay home and don’t let it spread. Even distance from your family.
- Wear a mask to prevent it spread by talking or coughing or sneezing.
- Wash hands thoroughly to prevent it from spreading by shaking hands or touching any surface.
Major diseases are prevented by vaccines as they play a big role and stop the bacteria from rising like vaccines for measles, mumps, chickenpox and influenza are available whose shots can protect not just children but adults too.
Many of the infectious virus gets inactive or dead by the direct exposure of sunlight i.e. UV rays, so airborne diseases are less reactive in summers but infectious in humidity.
After taking these preventions, we should prevent these by spreading information through campaigns to low grade areas and provide max vaccinations in those areas to the people.
Schools, colleges should also provide health activities and information regarding these infections and perform multiple activities with the students like hand washing, face covering awareness and keeping yourself and your place clean.
Before you Leave!
For preventing people from getting airborne affected by keeping our immune systems strong, by resting, getting adequate amounts of sleep. By having a good amount of Oxygen/fresh air and good hygiene full of vitamins and proteins and cleaning surroundings also cope up with such diseases.
Recover as fast with these and avoid contact with infected persons or if you have any symptoms or illness, try to maintain distance and not to spread these kinds of infections.
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