In this section it should be stressed that disease control measures are important both to the individual and to the community.

Classifying diseases

The syllabus distinguishes between infectious diseases, caused by pathogenic organisms, and non-infectious conditions. Students should be able to quote two or three examples of the latter, such as Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, coronary heart disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, osteoarthritis and schizophrenia.

Non-infectious diseases are sometimes grouped into such categories as degenerative, metabolic, genetic, environmental, mental and dietary. Such a classification exercise might well be attempted by very able students, but difficulties soon become apparent, chiefly because the categories are neither clear cut nor mutually exclusive.

The spread of pathogens
Students will be expected to recall the examples listed in the syllabus which link specific pathogens with a means of spread. Examination questions may be designed to test this knowledge indirectly; for example, they may ask about the importance (rather than specific knowledge) of controlling mosquitoes or houseflies, or of processes involved in purification of drinking water.

Students should recognise that the ease and speed of global travel poses a potential threat, particularly regarding the spread of specific diseases from regions where they are endemic. Despite the advice available, a number of cases of malaria continue to occur each year in the UK amongst travellers who have taken inadequate voluntary precautions. In 1991 for example, there were 2342 reported cases of malaria in the UK, including 13 deaths. All caught the disease abroad.

It is vital that statutory controls, such as vaccination (immunisation) and quarantine regulations, exist in respect of specific diseases and geographical locations.

Background
In a majority of countries, the occurrence of certain diseases has to be reported to the authorities, by law. Such notifiable diseases include cholera, diphtheria, scarlet fever, typhoid and typhus. The World Health Organisation exists partly to co-ordinate the activities of different countries in limiting the spread of such diseases. Considerable successes have been achieved by the WHO in, for example, ridding a number of countries of malaria, but a crowning achievement has been the global eradication of smallpox.

Personal hygiene measures

Emphasis should be placed on the need to:

• wash hands thoroughly, usIng hot water and soap, after usIng the toilet, touching the genitals, anal areas or the nostrils and also before handling food, especially when preparIng it for others. Thorough hand-washing requires the use of a nail brush. In certain circumstances, failure to wash hands properly can have serious consequences for the community:

  
  

• cleanse the genital and anal areas of the body at least dally.

  
  

• wash the whole body surface and charge into clean underclothing regularly.

  
  

• use a handkerchief or strong tissue to clear microbe-laden mucus from the nostrils and to trap infected droplets when coughing or sneezing:

  
  

• use the footbath at the swimming Pool, avoiding spread of the fungus which causes athlete's foot.

Questions may be set which test knowledge of the above measures and reasons for them. Such questions may be concerned with the consequences of failure to take adequate hygiene precautions.