Diseases can spread through something as simple as a sneeze, cough, or throat secretions. And sometimes, even breathing can be a medium to transport a disease into your system and make you sick. Such pathogenic organisms are known as airborne diseases. You might pick up these germs on your hands when you touch an infected surface, and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose without washing your hands. But it is more likely to be infected by an airborne disease as they roam freely in the air, and also, very difficult to see, let alone control. To bring you up to speed, we’ve listed a few airborne diseases, and, what you can do, to protect or prevent yourself from them. The most common airborne diseases are
- chickenpox,
- influenza,
- tuberculosis,
- mumps,
- measles,
- whooping cough,
- diphtheria, and
- the common cold.
Such diseases spread across vast areas and infect anyone, right from an infant to a fully grown adult and even someone past their retirement. Crowded places, closed quarters, and unhygienic and poorly sanitized areas empower such diseases to flourish and spread easily.
A patient recovers from these symptoms anywhere between a few days to a couple of weeks. Treatment for these airborne diseases depends on the type of sickness you may have. Each disease is treated differently, either by antiviral medications, antitoxins, antibiotics, even supportive care that helps to relieve certain pathogenic symptoms. Something as basic as drinking plenty of liquids and rest is also considered a good enough treatment for several airborne diseases. But someone with a weak immune system or minimal access to medical care can cause these diseases to worsen and depict a far greater mortality rate.
Among these is a more recent addition to the disease family—COVID-19 or the Novel Coronavirus. First identified in Wuhan, China on December 31st, 2019, the virus has spread across the world causing quarantines, shortage of supplies, and global panic. The coronavirus spreads via people who are in close contact with one another. It also spreads through respiratory droplets secreted by an infected person through coughs or sneezes. Right now, scientists worldwide are working toward creating a vaccine for such a virus. In the meantime, let’s shed some light on what the symptoms of such airborne diseases are. If one is infected by this disease, some of the most common symptoms they should look for are
- cough,
- fever, and
- shortness of breath.
Trying to cure this disease would not be necessary if we could avoid contracting it in the first place. We are constantly reminded by health experts and doctors that prevention is better than cure. It is impossible to avoid infections by airborne diseases, some methods can help prevent such pathogens, lowering the chance of becoming disease bait. Here are a few tips to lower the chances of falling ill:
- Avoid coming in close contact with anyone who has active symptoms of airborne diseases, as mentioned earlier, the chances of the virus spreading is much higher as it floats in the atmosphere.
- Do not touch your or anybody’s face with unwashed, unclean hands.
- If you are unwell, stay at home. By doing this, you help other people with a weak immune system avoid contracting the disease. It can also help you rest and recover sooner.
- If you feel the need to sneeze or cough, don’t forget to cover your mouth first. Use your elbow, or better, a tissue that you can dispose of to cover your mouth. Your hands are also a good mouth cover, but also a source to spread germs easily.
- Don’t forget to wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds at regular intervals, especially if you sneeze or cough. This can help get rid of a lot of germs.
- You can use alcohol-based hand rubs such as sanitizers to kill germs.
- If you must be around a person who is sick or are unwell yourself, wear a mask to avoid passing on germs directly to another.
These tips can help prevent infections and improve your chances of being immune to such airborne diseases. But there is no better advice than that from a trained medical professional. So if you do get sick, and the symptoms persist, get yourself checked at the nearest hospital or clinic. The sooner you are treated, the better. Always stay safe and stay informed.
