Chapter 4 Abstact

            In this chapter, it was important to note than diseases can be classified into different categories: communicable (infectious) or noncommunicable (noninfectious), and acute and chronic.  As we have previously learned, acute illnesses last for less than three months, and chronic illnesses last for longer than three months. 

Communicable diseases are caused by biological agents and are transmissable from a source of infection (wound) to a different person (host).  To best describe how communicable diseases are transmitted, the book details the chain of infection model.  In this, the interruption of disease transmission can be visualized as the breaking of one or more links in the chain.  On the other hand, noncommicable diseases are often the result of multiple risk factors that can genetic, behavioral, and environmental in origin.  Although they aren’t transmissible, several of the noncommunicable diseases rank among the leading causes of death in America.

There are three levels of disease prevention; primary, secondary, and tertiary.  Primary prevention includes measures that forestall the onset of disease or injury, while secondary prevention encompasses efforts aimed at early detection and intervention to limit disease and disability.  Tertiary prevention, on the other hand, includes measures aimed at re-education and rehabilitation after significant pathogenesis has occurred.  Both the spread of communicable diseases and the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases can best be reduced by the appropriate application of the three preventative measures by the community and the individual.  And, as always, the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases require both individual and community efforts.