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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 12 (March 2, 1936)

Common Infectious Diseases

Common Infectious Diseases

Before detailing the different diseases which come under this heading, let us refer to some of the terms so often used, but too little understood in this connection.

First of all, what is meant by the word “Infectious” and in what way does an infectious disease differ from any other disease?

When we speak of an infectious disease, we mean a disease which by contact or transfer of infected matter, can be transmitted from one person to another. Take, for example, a child suffering from measles. The patient can readily infect a healthy child through contact, the infection being carried by means of the discharges from nose, mouth, or throat.

On the other hand, a non-infectious disease is one which cannot be trànsmitted from one person to another, as for example, appendicitis.

Some of the infectious diseases are not of a serious or dangerous nature, provided proper care and attention are given to the patient, while others, such as Diptheria and Smallpox are of a serious nature. Certain of the serious infectious diseases come under the list of Notifiable Diseases, which means that all such cases must be notified by the doctor in attendance, to the Health authorities, who arrange for an inspector to investigate the conditions under which the patient is living, and where necessary, to control all contacts so that the risk of spread of the disease may be reduced to a minimum. The patient is isolated, or in other words is confined to certain quarters to which no one other than those necessary for the nursing of, and attendance upon the patient, is admitted. Contacts are controlled according to the nature of the case, in order to prevent them spreading any infection they may have contracted whilst in contact with the patient.

Our Health Inspectors act quietly, considerately and efficiently, and play an important part in the life and welfare of the community.

Now let us take it for granted that each disease is caused by the entry into the body of the germ or virus peculiar to that disease, and which will produce exactly the same disease in each body that it may infect.

Incubation Period. —From the moment of entry into the system until the patient manifests the first symptoms of illness is known as the Incubation Period.