This document discusses six killer diseases: tuberculosis, tetanus, measles, pertussis, polio, and diphtheria, detailing their causes, transmission methods, symptoms, prevention strategies, and treatments. Each disease is explained with an emphasis on how they spread, their respective vaccines, and available treatments or supportive care. The information underscores the importance of vaccination and early intervention in managing these serious health threats.

1. TOPIC: SIX KILLER DISEASES
Prepared by: Mr. Adnan Abdi

2. 1st { Tuberculosis }
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a
bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but
sometimes Tb bacteria can attack other parts of the
body, such as the brain, bones, joints and kidneys.
As a result, two TB-relat0ed conditions exist: latent TB
infection which is not Active and have no symptoms and
TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be
fatal.

3. Transmission.
TB bacteria spread through the air from one person
to another. When a person with TB disease of the
lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings, TB
bacteria can get into the air. People nearby may
breathe in these bacteria and become infected.
You’re most likely to catch it from co-
workers, friends, and family members.

4. What are the symptoms of TB.
The general symptoms of TB disease
include feelings of sickness or weakness,
weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The
symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include
coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of
blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of
the body depend on the area affected.

5. Prevention of TB.
The risk of infection can be reduced by using a few simple
precautions:
 A healthy immune system
Having a healthy immune system is the best form of defence
against TB. 60% of adults with a healthy immune system
can completely kill TB bacteria.
 The BCG vaccination
The BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) is currently the only licensed vaccine against TB, and
TB, and has been in use since 1921. It is one of the most widely used vaccines worldwide.
worldwide.
 Good hygiene:
Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
reduces the spread of TB bacteria.

6. Treatment.
 How Is Latent TB Treated?
If you have become infected with TB, but do not have the active TB disease
you should get preventive therapy. This treatment kills germs that could
cause problems if the disease becomes active. The most common
preventive therapy is a daily dose of the antibiotic isoniazid (INH) taken as a
single daily pill for six to nine months.
 How Is Active TB Treated?
If you have an active TB disease you will probably be treated with a combination of
antibacterial medications for a period of six to 12 months. The most common treatment for
active TB is isoniazid INH in combination with three other drugs—rifampin,
pyrazinamide and ethambutol.
You may begin to feel better only a few weeks after starting to take the
drugs but treating TB takes much longer than other bacterial infections.

7. 2nd { Tetanus }
Tetanus is a serious infection caused
by Clostridium tetani. This bacterium
produces a toxin that affects the brain
and nervous system, leading to stiffness
in the muscles. Another name for tetanus is
“lockjaw”. It often causes a person’s neck and jaw
muscles to lock, making it the person hard to open
the mouth or to swallow something.

8. Transmission.
The spores can get into someone’s body through
broken skin, usually through injuries. This bacteria
live in the environment, including in soil, rust
objects, dust, and animal feces. Any time you get
a wound that may become contaminated with soil
or environmental objects, you are at risk for
tetanus.

9. Symptoms of tetanus.
Tetanus affects the nerves that control your muscles which can
lead to difficulty swallowing. you may also experience
stiffness in various muscles especially those in your jaw,
abdomen, chest, back, and neck.
Common tetanus symptoms are:
 Painful muscle stiffness all over the body
 Trouble swallowing
 Seizures
 Extreme Headache
 Fever and sweating
 Changes in blood pressure and heart rate

10. Prevention of tetanus.
Since people cannot naturally acquire immunity to tetanus,
the best way to prevent tetanus is vaccination. { WHO }
World Health Organization, recommends tetanus vaccines
for all infants, Childrens, preteens, adolescents, and adults.
There are many kinds of vaccines used to protect against
tetanus, all of which are combined with vaccines for other
diseases. and includes :
 Diphtheria and tetanus (DT) vaccines.
 Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines
 Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines.
 Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines.

11. Treatment.
A Tetanus infection requires emergency and long-term supportive care while the disease runs its
course. Treatment consists of wound care, medications to ease symptoms and supportive care.
 Wound care
Care for your wound requires cleaning to remove dirt, debris or foreign objects that
may be harboring bacteria. Your care team will also clear the wound of any dead
tissue that could provide an environment in which bacteria can grow.
 Medications.
Antibiotics.
Antibiotics given either orally or by injection, may help fight tetanus bacteria.
Antitoxins.
Antitoxin therapy is used to target toxins that have not yet attacked nerve tissues.
 Supportive therapies
Supportive therapies include treatments to make sure your airway is clear and to
provide breathing assistance. A feeding tube into the stomach is used to provide
nutrients.

12. 3rd { Measles }
measles is a highly contagious disease
caused by Measles virus of the genus
Morbillivirus in the family
paramyxoviridae.
The virus infects the respiratory tract, then
spreads throughout the body. Measles is a human
disease and is not known to occur in animals

13. Transmission.
Measles is a very contagious viral disease that
is spread through the air from infected
person to another person.
Measles can be transmitted when someone
with measles coughs or sneezes, other people
surround the infected person can breathe
that contaminated air and then they can
become infected.
The virus can also remain in the airspace for
up to two hours after someone with measles
has coughed or sneeze.

14. Symptoms of the disease.
Symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days After
being exposed to the virus:
Symptoms may include.
 Extreme cough
 A sore throat
 Fever
 Conjunctivitis (inflamed eyes)
 Watery eyes
 Severe sneezing
 And Body aches

15. Prevention.
There are two types of vaccines that protect against measles:
the measles, mumps, rubella ( MMR ) Vaccine. And the measles,
mumps, rubella Varicella, ( MMRV ) vaccine.
MMR vaccine.
For children, the MMR vaccine is often given in two shots. The first shot
is given around the age of 12 to 15 months, and the second around 4
or 5 years of age.
MMRV vaccine.
This vaccine is only available for children ages 12 months to
12 years of age. Your child should get one shot between 12
and 15 months. Your child should get the second shot
between 4 and 6 years. However, the second shot can be
given three months after the first shot. Talk to your child’s
healthcare provider about the best timing for your child.

16. Treatment.
There’s no specific treatment for measles. Unlike bacterial infections,
viral infections are not sensitive to antibiotics.
There’s no specific treatment for measles. Unlike bacterial infections,
viral infections are not sensitive to antibiotics.
There are some interventions available for people who may have been
exposed to the virus. These can help prevent an infection or lessen its
severity. They include:
 a dose of immune proteins called immunoglobulin, taken within six days
of exposure
 acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce fever
 a measles vaccine, given within 72 hours of exposure
 a humidifier to ease a cough and sore throat
 Vitamin A supplements
 rest to help boost your immune system

17. 4th { Pertussis }
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly
contagious respiratory infection caused by a
bacterium called Bordetella pertussis.
Whooping cough bacteria attach to the cilia, that line
part of the upper respiratory system. The bacteria
release toxins (poisons), which damage the cilia and
cause airways to swell.
Whooping cough (pertussis) can cause serious illness in people
of all ages but is most dangerous for babies.
Babies can get whooping cough from family or caregivers who
don’t know they have it.

18. Transmission of the disease.
The bacteria that cause whooping cough
spread easily from person to person
through the air. When a person who has
whooping sneezes or coughs, they can
release small particles with the bacteria
in them. Other people then breathe in
the bacteria. It also spreads when
people spend a lot of time together or
share breathing space, like when you
hold a newborn on your chest.

19. Signs and 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.
At first, whooping cough has the same symptoms as the flu.
and it may include:
Mild coughing.
Sneezing.
Runny nose.
Low fever.
After these mild symptoms appear, the Cough worsens.
The cough comes in long This may happen at night, which may make it difficult for you to
sleep. When the cough is severe, it may cause vomiting, fainting, and poor bladder control
(urinary incontinence).
Whooping cough’s most well-known symptom is the ‘whoop’ sound. Taking a quick breath
between bouts of coughing causes this sound.

20. Prevention of Pertussis.
The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated.
Two vaccines Help people to prevent whooping cough ( Pertussis ) :
DTaP and Tdap. These vaccines also provide protection against tetanus and diphtheria. These
vaccines cannot give you Pertussis tetanus, or diphtheria.

21. Treatment.
Infants are typically hospitalized for treatment because whooping
cough is more dangerous for that age group. If your child can't keep
down liquids or food, intravenous fluids may be necessary.
Treatment for older children and adults usually can be managed at
home.
Medications.
Doctors generally treat whooping cough with antibiotics. There are several
antibiotics available to treat whooping cough.
It’s very important to treat whooping cough early, before coughing fits begin.
Treating whooping cough early can
 Make the illness less serious
 Help prevent spreading the bacteria that cause it to others

22. 5th { Polio }
polio is a highly contagious viral disease caused by
poliovirus.Poliomyelitis also referred to as polio, affect
children younger than 5 year old. In its most severe
form, it causes nerve injury Leading the paralysis,
Difficult breathing and even DEATH.
two patterns of polio infection exist:
Non paralytic polio and paralytic polio
 Non paralytic polio: non paralytic polio is minor
illness that doesn't involve central nervous system
and does not eventually lead to paralysis.
 Paralytic polio: is the most serious form involving
the central nervous system.

23. Transmission.
Poliovirus is very contagious and spreads
through person-to-person contact. It spreads
through contact with the stool of an
infected person or droplets from a sneeze or
cough. If you get stool or droplets from an
infected person on your hands and you touch
your mouth, you can get infected. Also, if
your child puts objects, like toys, that have
stool or droplets on them into their mouth,
they can get infected.

24. Symptoms.
Most people who get infected with poliovirus (about 72 out of 100) will
not have any visible symptoms.
Some people will have flu-like symptoms that can include:
 Sore throat
 Fever
 Fatigue (tiredness)
 Headache
 Nausea
 Vomiting
 And Stomach pain
Also some people with poliovirus infection will develop more serious
symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord, like meningitis (infection
of the covering of the spinal cord and/or brain), or paralysis (can't move
parts of the body) or weakness in the arms, legs, or both.

25. Prevention.
The Best way to prevent polio is to get the vaccination.
There are two types of vaccine that can prevent polio:
Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) And Oral poliovirus vaccine
(OPV).
Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) given as an injection in the leg or
arm, depending on the patient’s age.
Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) OPV is an effective vaccine that
contains a combination of one, two, or three strains of live, weakened
poliovirus, and is given in the form of oral drops.

26. Treatment.
There is no cure for paralytic polio, the focus is in
increasing comfort, speeding recovery and
preventing complications.
The most common supportive treatments include:
 Physical therapy to prevent loss of muscle
function and deformity.
 Pain Relievers ( Painkillers ).
 Heating pads or a warm towel to ease muscle
aches.
 And portable ventilators With breathing.

27. 6th { Diphtheria }
Diphtheria is a highly contagious, infectious
disease caused by a bacterium called
Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
It can lead people to difficulty breathing,
heart rhythm problems, and even death.
Centers for disease control and prevention
( CDC ) recommends vaccines for infants,
children, teens, and adults to prevent
diphtheria.

28. Transmission.
Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to
person, usually through respiratory droplets,
like from coughing or sneezing. People can
also get sick from touching infected open
sores or ulcers.
Those at increased risk of getting sick include:
 People in the same household or co-workers.
 People with a history of frequent, close
contact with the patient who have the
disease.

29. Symptoms.
Diphtheria signs and symptoms usually begin 2 to
5 days after a person becomes infected. Signs and
symptoms may include:
Fever and chills, Difficulty breathing or rapid
breathing, A sore throat and hoarseness and
Tiredness.
In some people, infection with diphtheria-causing
bacteria causes only a mild illness — or no
obvious signs and symptoms at all. Infected
people who stay unaware of their illness are
known as carriers of diphtheria. They're called
carriers because they can spread the infection
without being sick themselves.

30. Prevention.
There are a few vaccines That help
protect against diphtheria such as:
DTAP { Diphtheria tetanus and pertussis
For children 7 year old and younger }
Tdap ( Tetanus diphtheria and pertussis
Given at age 11 To help And protect into
adolescence/adulthood

31. Treatment.
Diphtheria treatment involves:
Using diphtheria antitoxin to stop the bacteria toxin from damaging the body:
This treatment is very important for respiratory diphtheria infections, but it is
rarely used for diphtheria skin infections.
Using antibiotics to kill and get rid of the bacteria: This is important for
diphtheria infections in the respiratory system and on the skin and other parts
of the body.
People with diphtheria are usually no longer able to infect others 48 hours
after they begin taking antibiotics. However, it is important to finish taking the
full course of antibiotics to make sure the bacteria are completely removed
from the body. After the patient finishes the full treatment, the doctor will run
tests to make sure the bacteria are not in the patient’s body anymore.