explain how cholera, malaria, TB and HIV are transmitted
Infectious Diseases: How They Spread 🚀
Cholera 💧
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It travels through the water highway—think of it as a river full of tiny, invisible cars that can crash into your body if the water is contaminated.
| Transmission Mode | Typical Example |
|---|---|
| Drinking contaminated water | Tap water in unsanitary areas |
| Eating raw seafood | Crab or mussels from polluted waters |
| Poor hand hygiene | Not washing hands before meals |
Malaria 🦟
Malaria is a parasite that uses the mosquito as a delivery truck. The female Anopheles mosquito bites you, drops the parasite into your bloodstream, and then the parasite multiplies in your liver before invading red blood cells.
- Infected mosquito bites → parasite enters bloodstream.
- Parasite travels to liver → multiplies.
- Parasite returns to blood → infects red blood cells.
Tuberculosis (TB) 🛬
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Think of it as a sneaky thief that hides in the air and enters your lungs when you breathe in infected droplets.
| Transmission | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Coughing or sneezing | Droplets travel up to 1–2 m |
| Close contact in poorly ventilated spaces | Increased risk in dorms, prisons |
| Sharing utensils (rare) | Not a primary route |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 🧬
HIV attacks the immune system by targeting CD4+ T cells. It spreads through direct contact with infected fluids—think of it as a stealthy virus that needs a doorway (blood, sexual fluids, or breast milk) to enter the body.
- Blood‑to‑blood contact (e.g., needles, transfusions)
- Unprotected sexual activity
- Mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding
Revision
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