Organization
The DHO, also known as the Disease Health Organization, provides awareness of diseases and how to keep healthy.
communicable vs. noncommunicable
What are communicable diseases and noncommunicable diseases? A communicable disease is a disease that is spread from one living thing to another through the environment. A noncommunicable disease is a disease that is not transmitted by another person, a vector, or the environment.
Communicable Diseases
Gonorrhea
Definition-Gonorrhea is a disease caused by bacterium that is sexually transmitted.
Symptoms-There usually are no symptoms when someone has gonorrhea, but if there are, males and females have different symptoms. Males may experience pus-like discharge, painful urination, or pain or swelling in the testicles. A female may experience pelvic pain, painful urination, vaginal bleeding, increase in discharge, and abdominal pain.
Treatments-There are different ways to treat gonorrhea based on your age. For adults, gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Babies with affected mothers may get a cream in their eye to help keep them from getting the infection.
Prevention-There are several ways to help reduce the risk of getting gonorrhea including: screenings, using a condom, stay away from others with symptoms, and make sure your partner is tested for STIs.
Common-Gonorrhea is a very common disease. About 820,000 people in the U.S. get it.Syphilis
Definition-Syphilis is a sexually spread bacterial infection.
Symptoms-The symptoms for syphilis appear in stages such as: primary, secondary, latent, tertiary, and congenital. Symptoms include sores, rashes, damaged brain, eyes, heart, nerves, liver, joints, bones, and blood vessels.
Treatments-Syphilis can be cured by the use of penicillin.
Prevention-There are a few ways to prevent or reduce the risk of getting syphilis. You can practice abstinence, and avoid drugs.
Common-About 55,400 people in the United States get syphilis.
Mono
Definition-Mono is a virus that is transmitted through saliva, coughing, or sneezing.
Symptoms-Symptoms for mono include: fatigue, soft, swollen spleen, malaise, rash, sore throat, headache, fever, swollen tonsils, and swollen lymph nodes.
Treatments-There is not exactly a specific treatment for mono, but mostly just drink lots of fluid and get plenty of rest.
Prevention-To prevent mono, don’t kiss, share food, utensils, glasses, etc.
Common-Mono is a very common disease. About 85% to 90% of adults have gotten the disease at some point.
HIV/AIDS
Definition-AIDS is a disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV. This disease is life-threatening.
Symptoms-There are several phases when it comes to AIDS such as: primary infection, clinical latent infection, early symptomatic HIV infection, and progression to AIDS. When you are in the primary infection phase, symptoms include: fever, night sweats, diarrhea, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, rash, chills, mouth or genital ulcers, and sore throat. In the clinical latent infection phase, you can get swelling lymph nodes. When in the early symptomatic HIV infection phase, symptoms include: fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, cough, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, and diarrhea. Finally, in the progression to AIDS phase, you can get soaking night sweats, rashes or bumps, shaking chills, fevers, weight loss, cough, blurred vision, shortness of breath, fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, and white spots in your mouth.
Treatments-There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but you can combine certain drugs to help block the virus.
Prevention-To help prevent HIV/AIDS, use a new condom each time, consider the drug truvada, tell your partner if you have it, use clean needles, get medical care if pregnant, and consider male circumcision.
Common-About 50,000 people get HIV a year.
Noncommunicable Diseases
Hemophilia
Definition-Hemophilia is a blood-clotting system disorder. It is a life-long disease.
Symptoms-Symptoms for hemophilia include: double vision, deep/large bruises, neck pain, joint pain or swelling, extreme fatigue, excessive bleeding or bruising, vomiting, blood in urine, headaches, prolonged bleeding, sudden pain, swelling, or heat, random nose bleeds, tightness in joints, unusual bleeding, or unexplained irritability.
Treatments-Hemophilia does not have a cure. There are multiple treatments though, such as: slow injections, infusions, certain drugs, or physical therapy.
Prevention-Sadly, there is no way to prevent hemophilia.
Common-There are about 20,000 men in the U.S. who currently have hemophilia.
Alzheimer's
Definition-Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. It that destroys your memory and other mental functions.
Symptoms-Symptoms to Alzheimer’s includes: memory loss, confusion, trouble with disorientation spatial relationships, speaking, writing, reasoning, thinking, making decisions, personality, and behavior.
Treatments-There are few treatments for Alzheimer’s, but there are a few medications that you can take. Other than that, you just need to make sure that the person is in a safe and supportive environment, exercises, and eats well.
Prevention-Right now, there is no way to prevent Alzheimer’s.
Common-60%-80% of people who have Alzheimer’s also have a case of dementia.
Cardiovascular Disease
Definition-Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, is involved with the narrow or blocked blood vessels that may lead to other serious problems.
Symptoms-Cardiovascular disease symptoms are: chest pain, pain in the jaw, neck, throat, back, or upper abdomen, shortness of breath, and pain, weakness, numbness, or coldness in the arms or legs.
Treatments-There are certain treatments for certain conditions of cardiovascular disease. There are lifestyle changes that can help you, such as exercising or eating healthier, medications, and surgery or medical procedures.
Prevention-There are many ways to prevent cardiovascular disease. You can quit smoking, exercise, maintain a healthy weight, practice good hygiene, manage stress, and more.
Common-600,000 people get cardiovascular disease every year, in the U.S.
Arthritis
Definition-Arthritis is the inflammation of your joints.
Symptoms-Symptoms of arthritis include: pain, decreasing range in motion, stiffness, redness, and swelling.
Treatments-There are a few treatments that can be used for arthritis, such as: medication, therapy, and surgery.
Prevention-To help prevent arthritis, you can exercise to keep your joints flexible and maintain a healthy weight to keep your joints away from overbearing weight.
Common-About 25% of women in every age group get arthritis and about 19% of men get arthritis in each age group.
Tests and Doctors
There are several places that a teen can go to get tested for diseases and see a doctor, such as HIV/AIDS. Teens can go to a health department, doctor’s office, hospital, and more.
Abstinence and Precautions
Teens should practice abstinence. By staying abstinent, you can prevent yourself from getting STIs or any unwanted pregnancy. There If you do take part in a sexual relationship, make sure to use a condom, ask your partner if they have any STIs, or if they have had any other partners.
Webmaster
I created this website to raise awareness of communicable diseases and noncommunicable diseases. People should be aware of the infections they are at risk of. We should know how to keep ourselves healthy and how to help one another if sick.