TABLE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Disease Signs & symptoms Incubation Communicability Prevention

Chicken pox – Esp seen winter & spring. Resp 10-21 days Thru inhalation of Mask patient. Provider
varicella zoster symptoms, malaise (not feeling well), airborne droplets should avoid contact if
virus; viral low-grade fever followed by rash & direct contact of they’ve never had
disease starting on face & trunk spreading to weeping lesions chicken pox.
rest of body. Fluid filled vesicles & contaminated Vaccination now
rupture & scab over within 1 week. linens. available (1995) and part
of childhood
immunizations. Pt
isolated until all lesions
crusted over and dry.
Common cold >200 strains of viruses cause the 12 hours – 5 days Direct contact, Handwashing
(viral rhinitis) common cold. Course mild, often (average 48 airborne droplet,
without fever and without muscle hours) contaminated
aching. hands and linens.
Conjunctivitis The clinical syndrome begins with 24-72 hours Contact with Good personnel
(pink eye) tearing, irritation & redness of eye(s) discharge or hygiene. Daily
followed by edema of lids, photophobia upper respiratory laundering of bed linens
(light sensitivity) & pus drainage. tract of infected including pillowcase and
Course lasts from 2 days up to 2-3 persons (fingers, towels. Use wash cloth
weeks. clothing, eye on unaffected eye first
make-up). and then launder after
Communicable use. No school during
during course of acute stage. Tx with
active infection. antibiotic eye
medications.
Hepatitis A – May have no symptoms. Adults may 15-50 days; Fecal-oral route. Vaccines in active areas
infectious or viral have abdominal pain, loss of appetite, average 30 days. Virus lasts on (active immunity). Good
nausea, diarrhea, light colored stools, Disease follows hands about 4 handwashing.
dark urine, fatigue, fever & jaundice. mild course & hours. More
Hepatitis A lasts 2-6 weeks comm. latter half There is no long term
of incubation & chronic infection.
most during 1 st

week of symptoms

Hepatitis B – It can take 1-9 months before 4-25 weeks; Direct contact Vaccination 90%
serum hepatitis symptoms develop. Some have mild average 8-12 (blood, semen, effective. Virus stable on
flu-like symptoms. Dark urine, light weeks vaginal fluid, surfaces with dried blood
colored stools, fatigue, fever & saliva). Can for 7 days.
jaundice. Can develop acute hepatitis, become
cirrhosis, liver cancer. asymptomatic
chronic carrier
capable of
transmitting
disease to others.
Hepatitis C Chronic condition in 85% of infected 2-25 weeks; avge Contact with Since 1989 screen blood
Leading cause of people. Liver fibrosis into cirrhosis in 7-9 weeks. infected blood for HCV. No vaccine due
cirrhosis & liver 20% of infected people. Disease may be primarily with IV to high mutation rate.
cancer. dormant 10-20 years drug use & sexual
before symptoms.
contact.
HIV – a virus that Mono-like syndrome, fatigue, fever, Variable. May Bloodborne Universal standard
attacks the sore throat, lymphadenopathy, develop through blood & precautions
immune system & splenomegaly, rash, diarrhea. Skin detectable body fluids
causes AIDS (a lesions (Kaposi’s sarcoma); antibodies 1-3 Death is usually from the
collection of signs opportunistic infections (Pneumocystic months. Variable opportunistic diseases
& symptoms) carinii pneumonia, Tb) time from HIV that take advantage of
infection to the patient’s weakened
diagnosis of systems.
AIDS.
Influenza (flu) Epidemics usually in winter. Sudden 1-4 days Direct contact Vaccination available
onset fever for 3-5 days, chills, especially in annually; most
Viral disease tiredness, malaise (not feeling well), Peak flu season is crowded areas effective if received
musculoskeletal aches, nasal late December via airborne. The from September to
discharge, dry cough, mild sore throat. through March. virus can persist midNovember.
Children can also experience GI on surfaces for Treatment is
symptoms of nausea, vomiting & hours but indirect symptomatic (rest, fluids,
diarrhea although this is uncommon in contact is less OTC med for fever &
 Disease Signs & symptoms Incubation Communicability Prevention
Influenza adults. “Stomach flu” with GI symptoms common. aches).
is caused by other viruses. Contagious 1 day
prior to being sick
up to 3-7 days
after 1st symptom.

Measles Initially symptoms of severe cold with 7-14 days; Inhalation of Handwashing critical.
(rubeola, hard fever, conjunctivitis, swollen eyelids, average 10 days infective droplets MMR vaccination part of
measles) photophobia, malaise, cough, & direct contact. childhood program.
nasopharyngeal congestion, red Highly
bumpy rash lasting about 6 days communicable
virus mostly
before prodrome
starts (early or
impending
disease time), to
about 4 days after
rash appears.

Meningitis – Viral meningitis – most common type 2-4 days up to 10 Resp droplets; Practice good
inflammation of of meningitis; self-limited disease days contact with oral handwashing. Mask for
meninges caused lasting 7-10 days. secretions, pt and self. Universal
by bacteria & Bacterial – very serious infection; crowding, close precautions. Post
viruses fever, chills, headache, nuchal rigidity contact, smoking, exposure antibiotics
(stiff neck) with flexion, arthralgia (achy lower started within 24 hours.
joints), lethargy, malaise (ill feeling), socioeconomic Vaccination now part of
altered mental status, vomiting, status. Viral childhood series
seizures. meningitis can (Haemophilus influenza
also be spread type B).
via contact with
feces of infected
person.
Monkeypox Rare viral disease. 12 days after 12 days From an animal No specific treatment.
exposure get fever, headache, muscle with monkeypox Possibly the smallpox
aches, backache, swollen lymph if bitten or touch vaccine to prevent
nodes, tired. Rash 1-3 days after the animal’s against getting.

Disease Signs & symptoms Incubation Communicability Prevention

fever; often starts on face as fluid filled blood, body fluids,
Monkeypox bumps & the spreads. or its rash.
Person-to-person
from large
respiratory
droplets during
long periods of
face-to-face
contact or
touching body
fluids or
contaminated
objects of
infected persons.
MRSA – Usually found in ill patients who are Usually spread Handwashing after any
methicillin multidrug resistant. Often in open from infected patient contact. Wear
resistant wounds, post-op wounds, around patients via hands gloves when doing pt
staphylococcus Gtube sites. of HCW & contact. Protective
aureus inanimate objects gowns when in contact
(B/P cuff, with infected linens.
stethoscope). Avoid sharing of
equipment. HCW can
be colonized with MRSA
(not common) but often
are not ill & are not at
risk to other healthy
persons (peers, family).
Mumps Painful enlargement of salivary 12-25 days Resp droplets & Standard BSI. MMR
(Acute viral glands. Feverish cold followed by direct contact with vaccination is
disease) swelling & stiffening of parotid salivary saliva of infected standard for childhood
gland in front of ear. Often bilateral. pt. immunizations. Adults
Earache, difficulty chewing & Communicable 3 born after 1956 should
swallowing. Glands tender to days before to get at least 1 dose of
palpation. about 4 days MMR.
after symptoms
start. Risk of
contracting

Disease Signs & symptoms Incubation Communicability Prevention

mumps disease is
minimal.

Pertussis – 1st phase – common cold symptoms 6-20 days Transmitted via Mask pt.
nd
whooping cough lasts 1-2 weeks. 2 phase lasts month DPT vaccination in
respiratory
or longer. No fever. Mild cough that secretions or in childhood series (not
can become severe & violent, an aerosolized sure how long immunity
productive. 3rd phase – frequency and form. Highly lasts).
severity of coughing decreases. contagious
except in 3rd
phase.
Communicability
greatest before
2nd phase.
Pneumonia Chills, high fever, dyspnea, pleuritic Highest risk are Masks. Vaccination
chest pain worsened by deep the non-healthy available esp for children
inspiration, cough, crackles & populations <2 years old and adults
wheezes heard on breath sounds >65 and for those
postsplenectomy.
Rubella – Generally milder than measles. Sore 12-19 days Inhalation of Mask pt.
German throat, low grade fever. Fine pink rash infective droplets MMR vaccination part of
measles; virus on face, trunk & extremities lasting childhood program.
about 3 days.

SARS (severe Viral disease. Fever >100.4oF, chills, Typically 2-7 Respiratory Fit tested N-95
acute respiratory headache, body achiness, respiratory days up to 10 droplets when respirators for caregivers
syndrome) complaints (cough, SOB, dyspnea, days coughing or within 6 feet of patient.
pneumonia), pulse ox <94% room air, sneezing droplets Patient to also wear N95
travel within 10 days of symptoms to into air. Can mask. Caregivers to
Ontario, Canada, People’s Republic of touch infectious wear gloves, gowns,
China, Vietnam, Taiwan, &/or material on goggles, and face
Singapore OR close contact with environmental shields. Proper
symptomatic person within 10 days of surfaces and handwashing extremely
symptoms. bring to your important. Wear
eyes, nose, protective gear when

Disease Signs & symptoms Incubation Communicability Prevention

mouth by cleaning equipment and
SARS unwashed hands. rig. Avoid aerosolizing
infectious material.
Scabies A parasitic disease of skin caused by 2-6 weeks before Transmitted skin Educate on mode of
a mite. Penetration is visible as onset of itching. to skin contact. transmission & need for
papules, vesicles, or tiny linear Reexposure – Transfer from early diagnosis & tx. No
burrows containing mites & their eggs. symptoms underwear & work or school until day
Lesions prominent around finger develop in 1-4 bedclothes only if after tx started. Contact
webs, anterior surfaces of wrists & days. immediate isolation. Disinfection for
elbows, anterior axillary folds, belt line, contact. clothes & bed sheets
thighs, external genitalia in men, Communicable used 48 hours prior to
nipples & abd & lower portion of until eggs & mites start of tx. Tx is a topical
buttocks in women. Itching intense are destroyed by solution.
esp at night. Complications limited to tx, ordinarily 1 or
lesions that get infected from occasionally 2
scratching. courses of tx 1
week apart.
Shingles Localized manifestation of vesicle with Shingles itself is After chickenpox, the
(varicella- zoster red base on skin areas. They follow a not contagious but virus is dormant in nerve
virus) nerve tract most often on the chest wall contact with tissue; as we age, the
& are usually unilateral & linear. someone with virus may reappear as
Second outbreak Severe pain & paresthesia (tingling, shingles could shingles when the
of the chicken pox prickling sensation) are common. lead to chicken dormant virus becomes
virus. Rash or blisters present 1-14 days. pox in someone active. Most common in
who never had it persons >50.
Smallpox – 1st symptoms last 2-4 days: high 12-14 days but Stable in aerosol No treatment currently.
serious, fever, malaise (not feeling well), head & can range 7-17 form. Spread Vaccinations stopped in
contagious & body aches, sometimes vomiting. Best days. Not directly from 1972 in the USA.
sometimes fatal to isolate the patient at time of fever & contagious until person to person Autoclave clothing &
disease (30% not to wait for development of rash. the rash primarily by linens. Contaminated
mortality rate). Next 4 days (most contagious): rash emerges. droplet or surfaces should be
Last case in USA emerges 1st as small red spots on aerosol. Could washed with hypochlorite
in 1949 (in the tongue & in mouth. Spots turn into also be spread (bleach) & quaternary
world was 1977 in sores that break open & spread virus via contaminated ammonia. Treatment is
Somalia). Caused into mouth & throat. Then rash clothing or bed supportive in nature.
by variola virus. develops spreading on whole body linens. Those Vaccination within 3 days
Humans only most at risk are will prevent

Tuberculosis (Tb) Primarily affects resp system. May 4-12-weeks Most commonly Universal precautions.
– bacterial disease spread to other organ systems. Persons most through airborne Mask pt and self. The TB
Development of disease about 6-12 susceptible: HIV, resp droplets. organism dies when
months after infection. Chills, fever, close contact with Repeated exposed to light & air.
fatigue, productive or non-productive TB pt, exposure is Skin test annually. If the
chronic cough, weight loss, night immunocompro- generally TB skin test is positive,
sweats, hemoptysis. mised, foreign necessary to will still need to be
TB infection – person has the bacteria borne in country become infected evaluated to determine if
but are not sick & not capable of with high TB rate, so prolonged the TB is active.
spreading the disease. May become Some HCW & exposure Incidence of TB rose in
ill if health status changes. May be prison guards, increases risk. 1985, started to decline
treated prophylactically for now. malnourished, in 1992 to date probably
TB disease – person ill, is capable of ETOH & drug due to improved control
spreading the disease. Needs meds. users. programs. TB can be
cured with meds.
VRE – Most susceptible are those with weak Highly Hardy germ; can survive
vancomycin- immune systems or those treated with communicable on hard surfaces 5-7
 Disease Signs & symptoms Incubation Communicability Prevention
West Niles Virus Most victims asymptomatic. Usually 3-14 days The disease is Avoid activities that
Mild infection (20% of those infected): Infection is spread by a bite expose you to mosquito
(West Nile fever – fever, headache, body aches, occ rash suspected based of an infected bites; use insect
mild disease with on trunk, swollen lymph glands. on clinical mosquito or blood repellant sparingly and
flu-like symptoms Symptoms generally last 3-6 days. symptoms and transfusion of one that contains DEET.
that last few days, Severe infection (less than 1%): history and contaminated Use netting over infant
no long term headache, high fever, neck stiffness, confirmed with a blood. The virus carriers. Try to avoid the
health effects). stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, laboratory test is in the blood a outdoors at dawn, dusk &
convulsions, muscle weakness, measuring the very short time; early evening. There is
(West Nile paralysis. Encephalitis reported more antibodies that people develop no specific treatment, but
Encephalitis or commonly than meningitis. are produced an antibody for supportive care for
Meningitis– Less early. further protection. symptoms. Infections do
than 1% of those The disease is not last very long.
infected. The not transmitted
most severe form from person to
of infection. person.
Encephalitis is
inflammation of
the brain and
meningitis is
inflammation of
the membranes of
the brain.
Avian or Bird Flu Typical influenza-like symptoms: Be cautious of Direct contact Good handwashing
patients with with infected before and after food
A contagious Fever, cough, sore throat, muscle recent travel poultry, preparation. Practice
disease of animals aches, eye infections (conjunctivitis), within last 10 days contaminated good hygiene during food
caused by viruses acute respiratory distress, viral to countries with surfaces and preparation. Avoid
that normally pneumonia. the bird flu objects contact with juices from
affect only birds activity: contaminated raw poultry mixing with
and occasionally with animal feces. other items to be eaten.
pigs. Wild birds 9 Asian countries Human exposure Properly and fully cook
carry the disease Russia is most likely poultry. Fully cook eggs
but rarely get sick. Kazakhstan during slaughter, – no runny yolks. Normal
Domesticated Mongolia defeathering, cooking temperatures kill
birds get sick & Turkey butchering and the virus. Thorough
Romania cleaning and disinfecting
Disease Signs & symptoms Incubation Communicability Prevention
Now considered preparation for of surfaces in contact
Avian/bird flu free of disease: cooking. with raw poultry (soap
Japan, the and water is adequate).
Republic of The bird flu is not
die. Concern is Korea, and transmitted Patient treatment: treat
mutation to Malaysia through fully and patients with severe
humans properly cooked febrile respiratory illness
food. with standard precautions
(good handwashing)
including gloves, gowns,
eye protection if witin 3
feet of patient, and
airborne precautions
(N95 mask). Continue
precautions for 14 days
after onset of symptoms.
Recommended that
healthcare workers get
vaccinated with the
current “flu” vaccine.