Middle School Life Science: Diseases and the Body's Defenses - Infectious Diseases — Flashcards

Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.

There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of getting infectious diseases. Eating well and getting enough sleep are a good start. These habits will help keep your immune system healthy. With a healthy immune system, you will be able to fight off many pathogens.    
Vaccines are available for some infectious diseases. For example, there are vaccines to prevent measles, mumps, whooping cough, and chicken pox. These vaccines are recommended for infants and young children.    
You can also take the following steps to avoid picking up pathogens or spreading them to others.    
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. Spend at least 20 seconds scrubbing with soap.    
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.    
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. This includes kissing, hugging, shaking hands, and sharing cups or eating utensils.    
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not your hands.    
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as keyboards and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.    
- Stay home when you are sick.    
The best way to prevent diseases that are spread by vectors is to avoid contact with the vectors. For example, you can wear long sleeves and long pants to avoid tick and mosquito bites. Using insect repellent can also reduce your risk of insect bites.