Communicable

and noncommunicable
diseases
Dr. Irniza Rasdi

Definitions
Communicable disease: a disease that can be spread to
a person from another person, an animal or object. Ex:
common cold, influenza, mononucleosis, etc.

Non-communicable disease: a disease that can NOT be

spread from person to person. Ex: cancer, heart disease,
cirrhosis, etc.

Definitions Continued
Disease: Any condition that interferes with the normal or
proper functioning of the body or mind.
Not all types of fungi, bacteria, viruses and protozoa are
disease-causing agents
Germs: The microorganisms that cause diseases. They
are so small they can only be seen through a microscope.

What is infectious disease?

A case is a risk factor
Infection in one person can be transmitted to others

(www)

Infectious Diseases are

Caused by Pathogens

Whats a
pathogen?

Aetiology

This is the study of what causes a

disease.
It is basically how scientists/doctors
pinpoint what created the disease in
order to better understand how to
cure it or prevent it from spreading.

Epidemiologic Triad
Disease is the result of
forces within a dynamic
system consisting of:
agent of infection
host
environment

Agent

Factors
Influencing
Disease Environment
Transmission

Weather
Housing
Geography
Occupational setting
Air quality
Food

Infectivity
Pathogenicity
Virulence
Immunogenicity
Antigenic stability
Survival

Host

Age
Sex
Genotype
Behaviour
Nutritional status
Health status

(www)

Epidemiologic Triad
Concepts
Infectivity ability to invade a host
(# infected / # susceptible) X 100
Pathogenicity ability to cause disease
(# with clinical disease / # of infected) X 100
Virulence ability to cause death
(# of deaths / # with disease (cases)) X 100

 Chain
of
Infectio
n

Chain of
Infections

Modes of Disease Transmission

Direct contact
Indirect contact
Droplet
Airborne

Direct Contact Transmission

Microbes directly transferred from an infected person to
another person
Examples
Contact with blood or other body fluids
Ungloved contact with a scabies-infested patient
Ungloved contact with wounds or mucous membranes

Indirect Contact Transmission

Microbes transferred through contaminated intermediate
object/living things
Examples
Healthcare personnel not performing adequate hand hygiene
between patients

Sharing medical equipment without cleaning or disinfection

between patients

Defective medical equipment allowing for inadequate disinfection

or sterilization

Vector

The item that transfers the

pathogen to its host.
Vectors are vehicles that
transport pathogens from
one host to another.
Examples: water, blood,
ticks, mosquitoes

Droplet Transmission
Respiratory droplets carrying infectious pathogens
Generated during coughing, sneezing, talking, or certain medical
procedures (e.g. suctioning)

Droplets traditionally defined as > 5 m

Typically refers to distances within 3 feet of infected patient

Airborne Transmission
Dissemination of droplet nuclei containing infectious
agents
Dispersed over long distances
Face-to-face contact not required
Special ventilation systems are required to prevent airborne
transmission

Think about it:

Where Do Pathogens Hide When
Not Infecting People and Animals?
The soil
Bodies of water
Surfaces like farm equipment
The skin of people and animals
In the air
In body fluids

Where are
those
pathogens?

Dynamics of
infectiousness
Susceptible

Infection

Timeline for Infection

Latent
period

Infectious
period

Non-infectious

Time
Susceptible host

Subclinical
disease

Clinical

Death/recovery

Incubation

(www)

Timelines for Infection and Disease

Latent period: time interval from infection to development

of infectious (note: this definition differs from that used for
non-infectious diseases).
Infectious period: time during which the host can infect
another host.
Incubation period: time from infection to development of
symptomatic disease.
Symptomatic period: period in which symptoms of the
disease are present.

Infections
Endemic: Habitual presence of a disease in a given
geographic area.
Epidemic: Occurrence of a group of illnesses of similar
nature within a given community or region in excess of
normal expectancy, and derived from a common or from
a propagated source.
Pandemic: A worldwide epidemic.
Herd immunity: Resistance of a group of to an attack
by a disease to which a large proportion of members of

Chain of Infection
Filariasis
The painful and profoundly
disfiguring visible manifestations
of the disease, lymphoedema,
elephantiasis and scrotal swelling
occur later in life and lead to
permanent disability. These
patients are not only physically
disabled, but suffer mental, social
and financial losses contributing
to stigma and poverty.

Immune System
The Immune System is a combination of
body defenses made up of cells, tissues,
and organs that fight pathogens in the
body.
Its purpose is to help you get better when you
are ill and to prevent you from becoming ill in
the first place.

How does our body protect us

from pathogens?
Our body is an amazing machine which has five main

barriers (first line of defense) for keeping our body healthy.

They are:
Skin acts as a protective barrier
Mucous Membranes line the mouth, nose, throat, eyes and other body
parts. These trap germs. Coughing and sneezing gets rid of the germs
trapped by these mucus membranes.
Saliva contains enzyme that destroy many harmful organisms.
Tears wash away germs. Contains enzymes that kill some harmful
organisms.
Stomach Acid acid kills many germs

Antigens and Antibodies

Whats the difference between the two?
Antigens: a substance that sends your
immune system into action when your body is
invaded by pathogens. The body sees these as
invaders.
Antibodies: proteins that attach to antigens,
keeping them from harming the body. How our
body responds to antigens, by producing
antibodies our bodys army of soldiers.

Iceberg Concept of Infection

Non
communicable
diseases

Introduction
Non-communicable diseases are the leading killer today and are
on the increase.
Nearly 80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income
countries.
More than nine million of all deaths attributed to
noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) occur before the age of 60.
Around the world, NCDs affect women and men almost equally.

Introduction
The leading causes of NCD deaths were:
cardiovascular diseases (17 million deaths, or 48% of NCD
deaths);
cancers (7.6 million, or 21% of NCD deaths); and
respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), (4.2 million). Diabetes caused an
additional 1.3 million deaths.

Cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular disease is caused by disorders of the heart
and blood vessels, and includes coronary heart disease (heart
attacks), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), raised blood
pressure (hypertension), peripheral artery disease,
rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart
failure.
Although heart attacks and strokes are major killers in all
parts of the world, 80% of premature heart disease and
stroke is preventable
33

Cardiovascular diseases:
Contributing factors
A persons genetic make-up
The foundations of adult health are laid in early life
Socioeconomic group
Mental health
Diet
Overweight and obesity
Inactivity
Tobacco
Alcohol
Diabetes
Globalization and urbanization
34

Cancer
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of
cellsthat arises from a change in one single cell.
The change may be started by external agents and
inherited genetic factors and can affect almost any
part of the body.
The transformation from a normal cell into a tumour
cell is a multistage process where growths often
invade surrounding tissue and can metastasize to
distant sites.

35

Common cancers
in Malaysia

Cancer: Interaction between a persons

genetic factors and any of three categories
of external agents
Physical carcinogens; such as ultraviolet and

ionizing radiation or asbestos;

Chemical carcinogens; components of tobacco
smoke, aflatoxin (a food contaminant) and arsenic (a
drinking-water contaminant);
Biological carcinogens; such as infections from
certain viruses, bacteria or parasites.

37

Cancer:
risk factors for cancer

tobacco use
unhealthy diet
insufficient physical activity
the harmful use of alcohol
Infections (hepatitis B, hepatitis C (liver cancer), human
papillomavirus (HPV; cervical cancer), Helicobacter
pylori (stomach cancer)
Radiation
variety of environmental and occupational exposures of
varying importance
38

Chronic respiratory diseases

According to the WHO Global Status Report on NCDs
2010, smoking is estimated to cause about 71% of all lung
cancer deaths and 42% of chronic respiratory disease
worldwide.
Second-hand smoke causes severe respiratory health
problems in children, such as asthma and reduced lung
function
Indoor air pollution from biological agents related to damp
and mould increases the risk of respiratory disease

Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the
pancreas does not produce enough insulin (a hormone
that regulates blood sugar) or alternatively, when the body
cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
The overall risk of dying among people with diabetes is at
least double the risk of their peers without diabetes.
About 347 million people worldwide have diabetes.

Diabetes
Total deaths from diabetes are projected to rise by more
than 50% in the next 10 years.
In developed countries most people with diabetes are
above the age of retirement,
whereas in developing countries those most frequently
affected are aged between 35 and 64.

Health Care
System in
Malaysia

Health care system in Malaysia

ASSIGNMENT 2
1. Choose a disease/illness
2. Choose a traditional treatment available for the
disease/illness
3. Describe in detail about the treatment related to the
chosen illness
4. Explain how does the treatment may improve or treat the
selected illness.

Thank you