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MINERVA IN FOCUS Health & wellbeing
Preventing
infectious diseases:
Everything you need
to know!
An article by MedSolutions How is an infection transmitted? General guidelines for preventing
Infectious diseases are transmitted by infectious disease
direct or indirect contact, and they are ✓ Get vaccinated if it’s feasible
categorised into the following groups: and available. Speak to your
foodborne, waterborne, airborne, through family doctor and discuss your
sexual contact/blood/bodily fluids, and personal history, chronic condi-
vector-borne (via insects or animals) tions and age, and a proper vac-
Each infectious disease has its own set cination plan will be determined
of specific symptoms, which may include based on your profile.
one or more of the following: ✓ Proper handwashing after
• Fever (common to most infec- coughing or sneezing, after han-
tious diseases) dling animals and animal prod-
• Abdominal cramping, vomiting, ucts, after bowel movements,
and/or diarrhoea before and after handling food,
• Fatigue and/or muscle aches before eating, after caring for
• Throat ache, coughing (produc- someone who is ill, after being
tive/with phlegm or dry), chest outdoors, after work activity, and
when hands are visibly dirty.
An infectious disease pain, nasal or ear congestion (for ✓ Avoid sharing personal ob-
respiratory infections)
is caused by an • Inflammation of the skin present- jects, such as towels, tooth-
external organism ing as pustules, pimples and/or brushes, utensils, shaving
skin lesions (in the case of infec-
equipment, sponges, bed linens,
such as a bacterium, tions affecting the skin, such as clothes, etc.
virus, fungus, staphylococcus infection, vari- ✓ Protect yourself from insect
or parasite. Many • cella, etc.) bites. Use insect repellent, wear
Other symptoms include: skin
long sleeves, and drain stagnant
organisms live in and rash, jaundice, swollen lymph water.
on our bodies. They nodes, haemorrhage, and more, ✓ Engage in safe sexual prac-
are usually harmless depending on the pathogen/ill- tices. Use condoms correctly
ness.
to reduce the risk of sexually
and often helpful. Vigilance to symptoms, in addition to transmitted diseases. Test your-
However, under knowledge of proper prevention methods, self regularly for STDs if you are
certain conditions, is the most effective way of preventing the sexually active and receive treat-
some organisms may transmission of infectious disease and ment promptly in the event of
illness. Discuss with your sexual
promptly identifying and treating individ-
cause illness. uals infected. partner(s) in case of illness.
28 ISSUE 31 / Q1 2025
