Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms enter the body in many ways and can cause infectious diseases. These diseases can be easily transmitted from person to person, so disease can break out in the community. In order to protect yourself from infectious diseases, the motto "prevention is better than cure" has always proved valuable. With just a few steps and a few good habits you can prevent many diseases and germs.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Prevent infectious diseases

1. 

   Hand washing. Proper hand hygiene is key in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Pathogens (such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi) are easily transmitted from the source to the skin, into the eyes and mouth, and from there enter the body. Therefore, hand washing is one of the first steps in reducing the spread of pathogens.
   • Wash your hands every time you go to the toilet, change diapers, sneeze or blow your nose, and when coming into contact with body fluids.
   • Wash hands before and after handling food.
   • When washing your hands, use soap and warm water to wet your hands to your wrists and scrub for at least 20 seconds.
   • If soap and water are not available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and rub it on your fingers up to your wrists to remove the germs.

2. 

   
   
   Avoid touching your face, eyes and nose. People often touch their faces several times a day. At such times infectious agents on the hands can enter the body. Although pathogens cannot pass through healthy skin, they can penetrate through the eyes, through the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.
   • In addition to proper hand hygiene, you should also try to keep your hands away from your face, even if your hands are clean.
   • Avoid holding your palms to your face and using a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
   • If a tissue is not available, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow. Immediately throw away tissues after use in the trash and wash your hands.

3. 

   
   
   Update your vaccination. Vaccination is a preventive measure that helps prevent or reduce infectious diseases. Vaccines work by stimulating the body's immune response against certain pathogens, and the immune system is able to fight off more effectively when exposed to that pathogen.
   • Timely vaccination and accurate record of vaccines given to each family member to ensure vaccinations are up to date.
   • Vaccines are designed to help the immune system recognize certain pathogens, so some vaccines can cause mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, lasting for a day or two. .
   • Some vaccines require a booster (such as tetanus and polio vaccines) on a schedule to maintain immunity.

4. 

   
   
   At home. When you are sick with a contagious disease, it is important to limit your contact with others to avoid spreading the disease. While some infections are not easily spread from person to person, others are very contagious, so stay home when the symptoms appear.
   • If you are in a public place, cover your mouth and nose with your elbows when you cough (not using your hands) to prevent germs from being spread through the air and through your hands.
   • Wash hands and clean shared items when sick to minimize the spread of germs.

5. 

   Safe to prepare and preserve food. Some pathogens can get into the body through food (therefore called an oral disease or germ). When foodborne pathogens enter the body, they can multiply and cause illness. Therefore, the preparation and proper storage of food is essential.
   • Be conscious of food preparation by limiting cross contamination. Do not prepare raw and cooked food on the same surface to avoid transmission of germs.
   • Clean and dry the kitchen counter often. Pathogens can multiply in humid environments.
   • Wash hands before and after preparing food. You should also wash your hands when changing cooking ingredients (eg switching from raw to fresh foods).
   • Store food at safe temperatures (refrigerate if necessary) and discard foods you suspect of quality. A change in color and texture of a food or a food with a strange odor are signs that a food has been spoiled.
   • Hot food should be served as soon as possible, and if you need to store it, keep it hot (like a buffet) or keep it cold as soon as possible to prevent germs from multiplying.

6. 

   Have safe sex and do not share personal belongings. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are spread through body fluids when it comes into contact with the genitals, mouth, and eyes. Have safe sex to limit your risk of getting an STD.
   • Always protect yourself by using a condom or mouth barrier when having sex, especially if your relationship is not monogamous.
   • Do not engage in sexual intercourse when you or your partner have genital herpes or genital warts. This can lead to the transmission of untreatable herpes.
   • Get tested for STDs before and after having sex with your new partner to find out about your condition.

7. 

   Smart when going away. Watch out for the risk of infection when you travel. Some infectious diseases are more common in places you go than where you live.
   • Talk to your doctor about vaccines to get vaccinated while you are away. Vaccination strengthens your immune system and prepares you for local pathogens where you will go.
   • Wash your hands often while away to prevent germs from getting into your body through your hands.
   • Protect yourself from vector-borne diseases like mosquitoes with precautions such as sleeping nets, using insect repellent sprays and wearing long-sleeved clothing.
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Method 2 of 2: Understand and treat infectious diseases

1. 

   Understand the different types of infections. You should know about infectious agents so you can control your risk factors.
   • Bacteria are the most common infectious agents, and can be transmitted through body fluids and food. They are single-celled microorganisms that use your body as a breeding ground.
   • Viruses are pathogens that cannot live outside the host. When viruses enter the body, they invade the body's cells to multiply and spread to other cells.
   • A fungus is a simple, plant-like organism that can reside inside the body.
   • Parasites are organisms that invade a host's body and use a host to grow.

2. 

   Treat bacterial infections with antibiotics. Antibiotics are drugs that fight bacterial infections. Antibiotics work to lose the ability to function or destroy bacterial cells, thereby helping the immune system strengthen its ability to eliminate bacteria.
   • Apply an antibiotic ointment to the mildly infected wound. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Do not use antibiotic ointment for deep and bleeding wounds. Seek medical help if the bleeding won't stop.
   • In the case of a systemic infection, check with your healthcare provider to see if you can take antibiotics.
   • It is important to understand that antibiotics cannot cure viral infections such as colds or the flu. A doctor can diagnose a bacterial or viral infection and provide appropriate treatment.
   • Take antibiotics only as directed. The unnecessary use of antibiotics (such as when infected with a virus) increases the resistance of the bacteria to the drug.

3. 

   Treat a viral infection. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics, but there are some antiviral drugs that can be used to treat certain viruses. Some viral infections can be treated with home remedies (such as rest and adequate fluids).
   • Certain drugs, called antiviral or antiretroviral drugs, can repel some viruses by disabling the ability of the virus to multiply DNA inside the host cells.
   • Some viral infections, like the flu, usually only need symptomatic treatment to make you feel better. The immune system is able to fight off the virus, as long as you don't lack resistance, are rested and provided with enough nutrients.
   • Many viral infections can be prevented with vaccination. So you should keep your vaccinations up to date.

4. 

   Know how to treat a fungal infection. Some fungal infections can be treated with fungicides and eliminate the infection. However, there are many types of fungus that cause disease, and only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment.
   • Some fungal infections can be treated with topical ointments if the infected area is only on the skin (like ringworm).
   • Severe and dangerous fungal infections are treated with oral medications or injections.
   • Some examples of pathogenic fungi include: histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis, these fungal infections can be fatal.

5. 

   Know how to treat parasitic infections. As the name suggests, parasites are organisms that infect the human body to live, grow, and multiply. Parasites refer to a wide range of pathogens, from worms to microscopic cells.
   • Many parasites can enter the human body through contaminated water and food (such as hookworms), others enter the body through damaged skin (such as malaria transmitted by mosquito bites). burning).
   • Never drink unfiltered or impure water from natural sources because it can be infested with parasites.
   • Some parasitic infections can be treated with oral medications or injections.
   • Your doctor can diagnose a parasitic infection based on your specific symptoms and tests, and treat it with appropriate methods.
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Advice

• Maintain proper hygiene and healthy lifestyles to prevent infections, including washing hands, avoiding face and keeping vaccinations up to date.

Warning

• If you suspect you have an infectious disease, you should contact your doctor immediately. Many factors can cause infections, and only a doctor can diagnose and treat it properly.