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Principles of treatment :, The treatment of infectious diseases consists of, two steps. They are to reduce the effects of the, disease (symptoms) and to kill the microbes, which caused the disease., i) To reduce the effects of the disease :, This can be done by taking medicines to bring, down the effects of the disease like fever, pain, or loose motions etc. and by taking bed rest to, conserve our energy.
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2. To kill the microbes :, This can be done by taking suitable, antibiotics and drugs which kills, the microbes and the disease is, cured.
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Principles of Prevention, While treating an infectious disease, following three, limitations are normally confronted :, (i) Once a person suffers from a disease, his body, functions are impaired and may never recover, completely., (ii) As treatment takes time, the patient is confined, to bed for some time., (iii) The infected person serves as a potential source, of spread of this infectious disease to other persons, in the community.
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Ways of prevention of infectious diseases, There are two ways of prevention of, infectious diseases:, (i) General ways, (ii) Specific ways, General ways of prevention of infectious, diseases The general ways of preventing, infections are mostly related to preventing, exposure:
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(i) Public hygiene: Public hygiene is one basic key, to the prevention of infectious (communicable), diseases. Garbage heaps, polluted water, foods, exposed to dust and flies are the chief sources of, disease-causing organisms. Clean surroundings can, prevent spread of diseases. For air-borne microbes,, we can prevent exposure by providing living, conditions that are not overcrowded. Similarly, safe, drinking water can be provided to prevent, exposure to water-borne microbes. This can be, done by treating the water with disinfectants, before its distribution.
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(ii) Eradication of vectors:, Vector-borne infections can be prevented by, providing clean environments. The breeding, places of vectors should be destroyed and, adult vectors should be killed by suitable, methods., (iii) Sterilisation :, Patient's surroundings and articles of use, should be sterilised. Soap, phenyl, dettol, andantiseptic lotion may be used wherever, necessary.
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(iv) Isolation:, A person suffering from an, infectious disease should be kept in, isolation so that others do not catch, infection from him.
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(v) Education:, People should be educated about, the infectious diseases so that they, may protect themselves against, such infections.
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(vi) Proper and sufficient food:, Availability of proper (nutritious) and, sufficient food to everyone make people, healthy to resist infections. It helps them to, develop a strong immune system and fight, off the infection before it can cause major, harm to the body.
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Specific ways of prevention :, The specific ways to prevent infectious, disease is immunisation by taking vaccines., Vaccines provide immunity from infectious, diseases like tetanus, diphtheria, whooping, cough, measles, polio etc. Our body has an, immune system which fights microbial, infection.
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When this system first sees an infectious, microbe, it kills the microbe and, remembers it. So if the microbe enters the, body the next time, it responds more, vigorously., Vaccines mimic the infectious microbe and, strengthens our immune system and, protects the body from infectious diseases.
