Airborne Diseases

Airborne diseases are difficult to control. They can be threatening because they
can be transmitted to anyone through the air. These diseases will travel on dust
particles or be passed through the air by sneezing, coughing or even laughing
and talking. Close contact with someone who is sick with an airborne disease or
someone who simply carries such a disease can cause contamination. Below are
the causes, symptoms and treatment options for major airborne diseases.

Common Airborne Diseases

Tuberculosis
Causes
Exposure to mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria through respiratory droplets
from sneezing, coughing, etc. can cause tuberculosis. Those with weaker immune
systems, like babies and the elderly, are at higher risk.
Symptoms
Coughing up blood and phlegm, difficulty breathing, wheezing, fever, fatigue,
sweating, chest pain, weight loss and breathing issues
Treatments
Fluids and rest as well as an antibiotic regimen are required to cure tuberculosis.
Some antibiotic treatments may last for up to 6 months.
Influenza (flu)
Causes
Exposure to the influenza virus by coming in physical contact with those already
infected or inhaling airborne particles.
Symptoms
Fever, congestion, sore throat, fatigue and issues in the lungs.
Treatments
The best defense is to receive annual flu vaccines as well as keeping away from
those with the virus.
Wash your hands after coming in contact with possible virus carriers. Many
people prefer hand sanitizer to prevent spread of viruses.
Measles

Causes
Contact with a person who has the measles or contact with particles from their
sneeze or cough.
Symptoms
Coughing, fever, muscle pain, skin sensitivity, sore throat, red eyes, white bumps
in the mouth and bumpy rashes all over the skin.
Treatments
There are no specific treatments for measles, but you can speed recovery with
lots of rest, fluids and the use of a humidifier.
You can also take acetaminophen to manage pain and discomfort.
Chickenpox
Causes
Chickenpox is highly contagious and can be passed through physical contact with
a rash on the skin or through inhaling airborne particles.
Symptoms
The most common symptom is an itchy, blister-like rash. Fever and sore throats
can also accompany this disease.
Treatments
Vaccination is the best preventative treatment.
Those with previous exposure should be safe as they have built up immunity to
chickenpox.
Mumps
Causes
A viral infection passed through touch or airborne particles.
Symptoms
Mumps affects the parotid glands which are salivary glands just below your ears.
Swelling is a common symptom and hearing loss can occur in very severe cases.
Treatments
Vaccination is key for prevention as there are still many cases of outbreaks in the
U.S. and around the world.
Rest and fluids will help speed recovery.
Meningitis

Causes
There are two types of meningitis. Viral meningitis has a number of causes from
direct contact to insect bites. It is very rarely a serious disease.
Bacterial meningitis is caused by exposure to various strains of airborne bacteria
that, when left untreated, can cause brain damage or even death. Prolonged
exposure to respiratory secretions is a main cause for either strain.
Symptoms
Bacterial meningitis escalates quickly and mimics the symptoms of flu. The
symptoms come on incredibly fast and include fever, headache, delirium, a stiff
neck, nausea and even seizures.
Treatments
Immunization is a must to prevent bacterial meningitis.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial meningitis once it has already attacked the
system.
Antibiotics will not treat viral meningitis, so vaccines are needed. Medical
supervision is required while the virus runs its course.
Anthrax
Causes
The most common cause is direct inhalation through the mouth or nose of
anthrax spores. This creates the potential for mass dispersal through explosions
or anthrax spores sent through packaging. These spores can also cause anthrax
by going through cuts on the skin or ingestions of infectious materials.
Symptoms
Nausea and flu-like symptoms are the most common. Since there are three
different kinds of anthrax the symptoms tend to vary between each one.
Inhalation anthrax is the most difficult to diagnose as it possesses symptoms
common in other, less serious diseases like coughing, sore throat and fever.
Treatments
Antibiotics are used to treat anthrax as it can be a very serious disease.
Vaccines are also given to those who are at risk of exposure such as military
personnel and scientists or medical researchers.
How to Prevent Airborne Disease

1. Vaccination

Airborne diseases can be avoided and prevented by getting vaccinated. For

example, many countries administer flu shots every year (usually in the winter
months, during flu and cold season) to avoid influenza epidemics. Many strains of
airborne illnesses can develop so vaccines often need to be changed and
updated.

Often, prevention can be as simple as having been exposed to these diseases

and building up immunity to them. This is the case with many who contracted
chickenpox as a child and can now avoid catching the disease again. However,
some diseases have many strains and it is virtually impossible to become
immune to all of them.

2. Avoiding contact

Another common way to prevent airborne illness is avoiding contact with infected
persons. Those who are infected can take precaution and isolate themselves until
they are well. This can mean that they may need to stay home from work or
school, or live in an area of their house that is isolated from others. For those
living under the same roof, masks should be worn around infected persons to
form a barrier and prevent the spread of the disease. If masks and isolation are
not practical, an infected person should take care to cover their mouth when
coughing or sneezing and the ventilation in the home should be increased.