communicable diseases

communicable diseases, illnesses caused by microorganisms and transmitted from an infected person or animal to another person or animal. Some diseases are passed on by direct or indirect contact with infected persons or with their excretions. Most diseases are spread through contact or close proximity because the causative bacteria or viruses are airborne; i.e., they can be expelled from the nose and mouth of the infected person and inhaled by anyone in the vicinity. Such diseases include diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, mumps, whooping cough, influenza, and smallpox. Some infectious diseases can be spread only indirectly, usually through contaminated food or water, e.g., typhoid, cholera, dysentery. Still other infections are introduced into the body by animal or insect carriers, e.g., rabies, malaria, encephalitis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The human disease carriers, i.e., the healthy persons who may be immune to the organisms they harbor, are also a source of transmission. Some infective organisms require specific circumstances for their transmission, e.g., sexual contact in syphilis and gonorrhea, injury in the presence of infected soil or dirt in tetanus, infected tranfusion blood or medical instruments in serum hepatitis and sometimes in malaria. In the case of AIDS, while a number of different circumstances will transmit the disease, each requires the introduction of a contaminant into the bloodstream. A disease such as tuberculosis may be transmitted in several ways—by contact (human or animal), through food or eating utensils, and by the air. Control of communicable disease depends upon recognition of the many ways transmission takes place. It must include isolation or even quarantine of persons with certain diseases. Proper antisepsis (see antiseptic) should be observed in illness and in health. Immunologic measures (see immunity) should be utilized fully. Some sexually transmitted infections are associated with cancer (cervical or penile). Education of the population in rules of public health is of great importance both in the matter of personal responsibility (disposal of secretions, preventing contact with the blood of others, proper handling and preparation of food, personal hygiene) and community responsibility (safe water and food supply, sterile blood supply, garbage and waste disposal). Animal and insect carriers must be controlled, and the activities of human carriers must be limited.

The Control of Communicable Diseases Manual is one of the most widespread single-volume reference volumes on the topic of infectious diseases. It is useful for physicians, global travelers, emergency volunteers and all who have dealt with or might have to deal with public health issues.

History

The first edition, published in 1915, was titled Control of communicable diseases in man; it was also known then as the CCDM.

The first edition was a small pamphlet; for a long time the paperback edition was a handy pocket book. Now, the softcover version would fit in the largest pocket of a very spacious winter coat only.

Latest edition

The 18th edition of the CCDM was published by the American Public Health Association in 2004, under the editorship of David L. Heymann.

The paperback and hardcover editions are both 623 pages. The paperback dimensions are 1.12" x 6.86" x 4.36", hardcover dimensions are 1.32" x 7.34" x 4.40".

The ISBN for the hardcover edition is ISBN 0-87553-182-2, the paperback is ISBN 0-87553-242-X

Disease descriptions

Each disease gets a description divided into nine sections:

1. Identification
2. Infectious agent
3. Occurrence
4. Reservoir
5. Mode of transmission
6. Incubation period
7. Period of communicability
8. Susceptibility and resistance
9. Methods of control

The size of each section varies considerably. For instance, the reservoir section for smallpox is less than a line long, since this disease is, in theory, only present in the freezers of offcicial laboratories. By contrast, the anthrax entry has a large paragraph on the current reservoir.

Availability

The cost of the publication is $US 30. Lower prices are available for members of the APHA.

The full title of this book, as registered in the Library of Congress, is Control of communicable diseases manual : an official report of the American Public Health Association (ISBN 0-87553-242-X).

The book is also available in Spanish and Italian. Many illegal copies have been published in Chinese and Arabic (this made one of the former editors, Dr. Abram S. Benenson, very happy, for it was proof to him that "his" book was really useful).