SAS GOVERNMENT DEGREE COLLEGE, NARAYANAPURAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT HEALTH &HYGIENE CLUB What is Health and Hygiene? According to the World Health Organisation, health is defined as “a state of complete physical, social and mental well- being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Good health is more important than being free from disease. Healthy people are more efficient, productive and live longer than unfit people. Important factors that contribute to good health are: 1. Balanced Diet- To maintain a healthy life, one should take a proper well-balanced diet with plenty of water. 2. Personal Hygiene- A person should live in a clean environment and must follow good personal hygiene. There should be proper disposal of wastes. Clean surroundings prevent the spread of diseases. 3. Regular Exercise- Along with good food and hygiene exercise is also very important in maintaining good health. Regular exercise and good sleep help a person to remain fit, stress-free, and active. Hygiene The practices that we follow in our day-to-day lives to maintain good health are known as hygiene. This includes: • Personal hygiene • Community hygiene Personal Hygiene- The following practices should be followed every day to remain Healthy: • Washing hands before and after eating • Regular toilet habits • Cleaning teeth • Bathing on a regular basis • Wearing clean and comfortable clothes • Drinking clean water • Keeping house clean and insect free Community Hygiene- The environment in which we live plays a very important role in keeping us healthy. The practices to keep our surroundings clean should include: • Proper disposal of household wastes • Cleaning of roads and streets • Keeping house clean • Covering dustbins • Spraying insecticides at regular intervals to ward off insects Disease Sometimes the human body gets affected due to some environmental, physiological or psychological factors which disturbs the normal functioning of the body organs. This malfunctioning of the human body is called disease. A disease may affect a person not only physically but also emotionally and mentally. There are Mainly Two Types of Diseases: 1. Infectious diseases 2. Non-infectious diseases Common Infectious Diseases Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, worms, etc. Based on the causative organisms, these can be classified as under: The pathogens enter the human body through direct contact, contaminated food and water, and through infectious droplets. They multiply in the body and affect the normal functioning of the body. 1. Viral Diseases a. Common cold • Caused by rhinovirus • Affects nose, bronchioles and respiratory tract • Mainly lasts for 4-5 days • Common symptoms include sore throat, nasal congestion, headache and cough • Spreads by touching infected objects and through droplets during sneezing and coughing. b. Hepatitis (Jaundice) • Caused by virus HAV (Hepatitis A Virus) • Affects liver • Common symptoms are high fever, dark yellow urine, loss of appetite, headache, light coloured stool • Spreads through contaminated water • It can be prevented by taking vaccines, drinking boiled and chlorinated water and maintaining proper hygiene. c. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) • Caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus) • Affects the immune system • Common symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, loss of memory, night sweating etc • Methods of transmission include: a. Using infected needles b. Unprotected sexual contact c. Transfusion of contaminated blood d. From infected mother to unborn child • It can be prevented by avoiding drug abuse, using safe disposable needles, avoiding multiple sex partners, regular medical checkups etc. 2. Bacterial Diseases a. Typhoid • Caused by bacterium Salmonella typhi • Affects the intestines • Common symptoms are high fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, headache • Spreads through contaminated food and water • It can be prevented by taking a vaccine. b. Cholera • Caused by bacterium Vibrio cholerae • Affects the intestines • Common symptoms are dehydration, vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, weight loss • Spreads through contaminated food and water • It can be prevented by taking vaccines, maintaining personal hygiene and good sanitation. 3. Fungal Diseases a. Ringworm • Caused by fungi Microsporum and Trichophyton • Affects skin, nails and scalp • Common symptoms are itching on skin and scalp, dry scaly lesions on skin, nails and scalp • Spreads by direct contact with infected objects • It can be prevented by keeping good personal hygiene. 4. Protozoan Diseases a. Malaria • Caused by many species of Plasmodium. • Affects the liver and spleen • Common symptoms are high fever accompanied with chills, enlargement of liver and spleen, loss of appetite, headache • Spreads through the bite of female Anopheles mosquito that transfers the sporozoites of Plasmodium from infected person to a normal person. • It can be controlled by eradicating mosquitoes, using mosquito nets and repellents. • Treated by using chloroquine. b. Amoebiasis (Amoebic Dysentery) • Caused by Entamoeba histolytica • Affects the large intestine • Common symptoms are stomach pain and cramps, stool with mucus and blood clots, constipation, diarrhoea • Spreads through contaminated food and water when house flies transmit the parasites from faecal matter of infected people to food. • It can be prevented by drinking clean water, proper disposal of human excreta and covering of cooked food. 5. Helminthic Diseases a. Filariasis/ Elephantiasis • Caused by Wuchereria bancrofti • Affects the lymph vessels of legs. • Common symptoms are inflammation of organs, swollen lower legs, thighs and feet resembling elephant’s legs. • Spread through bite of female Culex mosquitoes. • It can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites. Measures to Prevent Infectious Diseases Include: • Maintaining personal hygiene • Maintaining public hygiene • Taking well balanced diet • Spreading awareness about diseases and drug abuse • Eradication of disease-causing germs • Vaccination and immunization programmes