The document discusses various airborne diseases including their causes, symptoms, and prevention. It begins by defining airborne diseases as illnesses spread through tiny pathogens in the air, transmitted through coughing, sneezing, or breathing. Common airborne diseases mentioned include the cold, flu, chickenpox, mumps, measles, and whooping cough. Uncommon diseases include anthrax, diphtheria, and meningitis. Prevention focuses on vaccination, ventilation, and avoiding contact with infected individuals showing symptoms.

1. AIRBORNE DISEASES
DR. M. SONIA ANGELINE
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES
KRISTU JAYANTI COLLEGE

2. INTRODUCTION
❖Airborne diseases are illnesses spread by tiny pathogens in the air.
❖These can be bacteria, fungi, or viruses, but they are all transmitted through airborne contact.
❖In most cases, an airborne disease is contracted when someone breathes in infected air.
❖Airborne disease can spread when people with certain infections cough, sneeze, or talk, spewing
nasal and throat secretions into the air.
❖Some viruses or bacteria take flight and hang in the air or land on other people or surfaces.
❖Many airborne diseases affect humans.
❖An airborne transmission is disease transmission through small particulates that can be transmitted
through the air over time and distance.
❖Diseases capable of airborne transmission include many of considerable importance both in human
and veterinary medicine.

3. INTRODUCTION
❖Colds and flu, are transmitted through the air.
❖Many airborne diseases are common and can have mild or severe symptoms.
❖Particles that cause airborne diseases are small enough to cling to the air.
❖They hang on dust particles, moisture droplets, or on the breath until they are picked up.
❖They are also acquired by contact with bodily fluids, such as mucus or phlegm.
❖Once the pathogens are inside the body, they multiply until someone has the disease.
❖Prevention tips include good ventilation to swap indoor and outdoor air.
❖Ventilation methods, such as opening a window or using fans, help to exchange dirty air.
❖Treatment for less serious airborne diseases includes rest and fluids.

4. COMMON AIRBORNE DISEASES
❑ Influenza: the seasonal “flu” virus spreads easily from person to person. There are many strains of the flu, and it
continually changes to adapt to the human immune system.
❑ The common cold: the condition called “a cold” is usually caused by a rhinovirus. There are many rhinoviruses, and the
strains change to make it easier to infect humans.
❑ Varicella zoster: this virus causes chickenpox and spreads easily among young children. The rash is typically widespread
on the body and made up of small red spots that turn into itchy blisters, which scab over in time. Chickenpox is spread
for about 48 hours before a rash shows, which is how it infects others so successfully. It is usually spread through the air
or by touching the rash.
❑ Mumps: this virus affects the glands just below the ears, causing swelling and, in some cases, loss of hearing.
Vaccination is considered important to prevent the disease.
❑ Measles: this illness is caused by contact with a person who has the measles virus, or by inhaling particles from their
sneezes or cough. As with mumps, vaccination is essential for preventing the spread of this disease.
❑ Whooping cough (pertussis): this is a contagious, bacterial illness that causes the airways to swell. The hacking cough
that results is persistent and generally treated with antibiotics early on to prevent damage.

5. UNCOMMON AIRBORNE DISEASES
INCLUDE
• Anthrax: this is a bacterial disease that infects the body when a person inhales anthrax spores. It causes
nausea and flu symptoms. Inhaled anthrax is difficult to diagnose because it resembles other diseases
such as flu. Anthrax is treated with antibiotics to stop it worsening.
• Diphtheria: a rare bacterial disease, diphtheria damages the respiratory system and attacks the heart,
kidneys, and nerves. Its rarity may be due to widespread vaccination. Diphtheria can be treated with
antibiotics.
• Meningitis: meningitis swells the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. It is a bacterial or viral
infection, but is also caused by an injury or fungal infection. Common symptoms include a
persistent headache, fever, and skin rash.
• The length of an illness caused by a common airborne disease can vary from a few days to weeks, but it
is usually dealt with easily. Uncommon airborne diseases may require additional treatment.

6. SYMPTOMS
➢ Cough
➢ Chill
➢ Muscle and body aches
➢ Fatigue
➢ Congestion
➢ Sneezing
➢ Runny or stuffy nose
➢ Sore throat
➢ Slight body aches or headaches
➢ Sinus pressure
➢ Some people also experience a low fever or general sluggishness with these symptoms.

7. INFLUENZA
• Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is commonly
called the flu, but it's not the same as stomach "flu" viruses that cause diarrhea and vomiting.
• For most people, influenza resolves on its own. But sometimes, influenza and its complications can be deadly. People at
higher risk of developing flu complications include:
• Young children under age 5, and especially those under 12 months
• Adults older than age 65
• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• Pregnant women and women up to two weeks postpartum
• People with weakened immune systems
• People who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes
• People who are very obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
• Though the annual influenza vaccine isn't 100 percent effective, it's still your best defense against the flu.

8. SYMPTOMS AND CAUSE
• Fever over 100.4 ℉ (38 ℃)
• Aching muscles
• Chills and sweats
• Headache
• Dry, persistent cough
• Fatigue and weakness
• Nasal congestion
• Sore throat
Cause: Flu viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks.
You can inhale the droplets directly, or you can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or
computer keyboard — and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth.
Prevention: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccination for
everyone age 6 months or older.

9. THE COMMON COLD
• The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper respiratory tract).
• It's usually harmless, although it might not feel that way. Many types of viruses can cause a common cold.
• Children younger than 6 are at greatest risk of colds, but healthy adults can also expect to have two or three
colds annually.
• Most people recover from a common cold in a week or 10 days.
• Symptoms might last longer in people who smoke.

10. SYMPTOMS
• Symptoms of a common cold usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.
• Signs and symptoms, which can vary from person to person, might include:
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion
• Slight body aches or a mild headache
• Sneezing
• Low-grade fever
• Generally feeling unwell (malaise)
• The discharge from your nose may become thicker and yellow or green in color as a common cold runs its course.
This isn't an indication of a bacterial infection.

11. CAUSE AND PREVENTION
• Although many types of viruses can cause a common cold, rhinoviruses are the most common culprit.
• A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose.
• The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks.
• It also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by sharing contaminated objects, such as utensils, towels,
toys or telephones.
• If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure, you're likely to catch a cold.
PREVENTION
• There's no vaccine for the common cold, but can take precautions to slow the spread of cold viruses:
• Wash your hands.
• Use tissues while sneezing and coughing.
• Don't share. Don't share drinking glasses or utensils with other family members.
• Choose your child care center wisely. Look for a child care setting with good hygiene practices and clear policies about keeping sick
children at home.
• Take care of yourself. Eating well, getting exercise and enough sleep, and managing stress might help you keep colds at bay.

12. VARICELLA ZOSTER
• Varicella zoster is a virus. It causes chickenpox, also called varicella and shingles, called herpes zoster.
• Lesions are typically present in all stages of development at the same time.
• The rash usually appears first on the chest, back, and face, then spreads over the entire body. The lesions are usually
most concentrated on the chest and back.
• Symptoms typically last 4 to 7 days.
• Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same
virus that causes varicella (chickenpox).
• The rash develops into clusters of vesicles.
• New vesicles continue to form over three to five days and progressively dry and crust over. They usually heal in two
to four weeks.
• There may be permanent pigmentation changes and scarring on the skin.

13. SYMPTOMS
• Varicella is generally mild, with an itchy rash, malaise, and temperature up to 102°f for 2 to 3 days. Infants, adolescents,
adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people are at risk for more severe disease and have a higher incidence of
complications.
• The rash is usually painful, itchy, or tingly. These symptoms may precede rash onset by several days. Some people may also
have headache, photophobia (sensitivity to bright light), and malaise in the prodromal phase.
• Varicella is highly contagious. The virus can be spread from person to person by direct contact, inhalation of aerosols from
vesicular fluid of skin lesions of acute varicella or zoster, and possibly through infected respiratory secretions that also may
be aerosolized.
TREATMENT
• Two doses of varicella vaccine are recommended for all children, adolescents, and adults without evidence of immunity to
varicella. Those who previously received one dose of varicella vaccine should receive their second dose for best protection
against the disease.
• Acyclovir is licensed for treatment of varicella and herpes zoster, and acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are approved
for herpes zoster.

14. MUMPS
• Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects saliva-producing (salivary) glands that are located near your ears.
• Mumps can cause swelling in one or both of these glands.
• These outbreaks generally affect people who aren't vaccinated, and occur in close-contact settings such as schools
or college campuses.
• Complications of mumps, such as hearing loss, are potentially serious but rare.
• There's no specific treatment for mumps.
SYMPTOMS
The primary sign of mumps is swollen salivary glands that cause the cheeks to puff out.
•Pain in the swollen salivary glands on one or both sides of your face
•Pain while chewing or swallowing
•Fever
•Headache
•Muscle aches
•Weakness and fatigue
•Loss of appetite

15. CAUSE
• Mumps is caused by a virus that spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva.
• Can contract mumps by breathing in saliva droplets from an infected person who has just sneezed or
coughed.
• Can contract mumps from sharing utensils or cups with someone who has mumps.
PREVENTION
• The best way to prevent mumps is to be vaccinated against the disease. Most people have immunity to
mumps once they're fully vaccinated.
• The mumps vaccine is usually given as a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) inoculation,
which contains the safest and most effective form of each vaccine.
• Two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended before a child enters school.

16. MEASLES
• Measles is a childhood infection caused by a virus. Measles can now almost always be prevented with a vaccine.
• Also called rubeola, measles can be serious and even fatal for small children.
• While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still
kills more than 100,000 people a year, most under the age of 5.
Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
•Fever
•Dry cough
•Runny nose
•Sore throat
•Inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis)
•Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on a red background found inside the mouth on the inner lining of the cheek — also
called Koplik's spots
•A skin rash made up of large, flat blotches that often flow into one another
SYMPTOMS

17. CAUSES
• Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat of an
infected child or adult.
• When someone with measles coughs, sneezes or talks, infected droplets spray into the air, where
other people can inhale them.
• The infected droplets may also land on a surface, where they remain active and contagious for
several hours.
• You can contract the virus by putting your fingers in your mouth or nose or rubbing your eyes
after touching the infected surface.
PREVENTION
• The centers for disease control and prevention recommends that children and adults receive the
measles vaccine to prevent measles.
• To prevent measles in children, doctors usually give infants the first dose of the vaccine between
12 and 15 months, with the second dose typically given between ages 4 and 6 years.

18. WHOOPING COUGH (PERTUSSIS)
• Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection.
• In many people, it's marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds
like "whoop."
• Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease.
• Now whooping cough primarily affects children too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations
and teenagers and adults whose immunity has faded.
• Deaths associated with whooping cough are rare but most commonly occur in infants.

19. SYMPTOMS
• Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for signs and symptoms to
appear, though it can sometimes take longer.
They're usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:
• Runny nose, Nasal congestion
• Red, watery eyes
• Fever, Cough
• After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing
uncontrollable coughing. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:
• Provoke vomiting
• Result in a red or blue face
• Cause extreme fatigue
• End with a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath of air

20. CAUSES
• Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called bordetella pertussis.
• When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed
into the air and breathed into the lungs of anyone who happens to be nearby.
PREVENTION
• The best way to prevent whooping cough is with the pertussis vaccine, which
doctors often give in combination with vaccines against two other serious
diseases — diphtheria and tetanus.
• Doctors recommend beginning vaccination during infancy.

21. Bacteria:
• Brucellosis caused by brucella melitensis
• Pulmonary anthrax caused by bacillus anthracis
• Typhoid fever caused by salmonella typhi
• Whooping cough caused by bordetella pertusis
• Legionellosis caused by legionella spp.
Fungi:
• Aspergillosis caused by aspergillus fumigatus
• Cryptococcosis caused by cryptococcus neoformans
• Nocardiosis caused by nocardia aesteroides
Human diseases caused by airborne microbes
Virus:
• Influenza caused by influenza virus
• Common cold caused by rhino virus
• Rubella caused by rubi virus
• Measles caused by morbill virus

22. Airborne diseases-impacts on human health
• Allergies
• Psittacosis- dried bird droppings from infected birds, blown into air
• Legionnaire's disease- droplets from air-conditioning systems, water tanks or where
any bacterium grows
• Aspergillosis- fungal spores inhaled from decomposing organic matter
Protozoan diseases
• Pneumocystis- skin lesions

23. Airborne viral diseases
• Chickenpox- causes blister-like rash
• Flu/influenza- respiratory illness
• Measles- also known as rubeola, rash and fever
• Rubella/german measles- rash and fever
• Mumps- fever and swelling of salivary glands
• Smallpox- extensive rash and high fever
• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome- respiratory disease from contact with infected rodents
• Pleurodynia- chest wall pain, gastrointestinal/respiratory illness
• Common cold
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)- identified as a new disease in 2003

24. Airborne bacterial diseases
• Whooping cough- severe coughing fits
• Meningitis- fever, rash, nausea
• Diphtheria- nerve and organ damage
• Pneumonia- spectrum of illness ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe disease
• Tuberculosis- can be latent, weight loss, fever, chest pain
• Pulmonary anthrax- caused by handling products from infected animals or by breathing in the anthrax
spores, spreads from person to person
• Staphylococcus respiratory infection, sepsis, other cutaneous infections- about 30% of people carry this in
their nose
• Streptococcus respiratory infection- an example is strep throat
• Legionellosis- fever, chills, cough, can be treated with antibiotics
• Pneumonic plague, bubonic plague- usually transmitted to humans by infected rodent flea bites

25. TREATMENT
• It is important for people to talk to a doctor as soon as they experience symptoms to avoid any complications
and to begin treatment.
• Symptoms of the common cold can be treated, but the illness tends to go away without treatment. The flu runs
its course over a few days before someone starts to recover.
• While airborne diseases are common, serious complications are much more rare and normal vaccinations
reduce the risk, substantially.
• For most airborne diseases, you’ll need plenty of rest and fluids. Further treatment depends on your specific
illness.
• Some airborne diseases, such as chickenpox, have no targeted treatment, the immune system usually deals with
the virus on its own. However, medications and other supportive care can help relieve symptoms. The flu, can
be treated with antiviral drugs.
• Treatment for infants with whooping cough can include antibiotics, and hospitalization is often needed.
• There are drugs to treat and cure TB, although some strains of TB are drug resistant. Failure to complete the
course of medicine can lead to drug resistance and return of symptoms.
• If caught early enough, diphtheria can be successfully treated with antitoxins and antibiotics

27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DGwOJXSxqg