Categories of Disease

Types of disease:

Acute Disease:

• Acute disease lasts for only a short period of time.
• It is caused in due course time.
• It does not cause major effect on general health.
• Example: cough, dysentry.

Chronic disease:

• Chronic diseases last for a long period of time
• It is caused in due course of time.
• It causes major effect on general health.
  Example: Elephantiasis, heart disease, tuberculosis.

Difference between Infectious and Non-infectious Diseases:

Infectious or Communicable Diseases:

• They are caused by attack of pathogens.
• The diseases brought about by exitinsic or external factors.
• Infectious diseases can pass from diseased person to a heathly person.
• Transmission of infection occurs through direct contact or some medium (air, water, vectors).
• Community hygiene can reduce the incidence of infections diseases
• Example: Cholera, Tuberculosis (TB), Pneumonia, Chickenpox.

Non-Infectious or Communicable Diseases:

• They are not caused by pathogens.
• The diseases are mostly brought by intrinsic or internal factors.
• Non-infectious diseases cannot pass from one person to another.
• Transmission is absent, However hereditary diseases are transmitted from parent to offspring.
• Community hygiene is ineffective in reducing the incidence of non-infectious diseases.
• Example: High blood pressure, Heart, disease, Cancer.