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Airborne infections: methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Lesson on the topic “prevention of airborne diseases Airborne diseases are

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Airborne diseases

Respiratory diseases and their prevention

Airborne diseases

As a rule, such an acute infectious disease is characterized by intoxication of the body, as well as damage to the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract. This virus is transmitted through the air and immediately multiplies in the cells of a healthy body, as a result of which the latter becomes ill. The latent incubation period of influenza ranges from several hours to several days. An uncomplicated virus disappears after five to six days. However, complete recovery of a person occurs only after two weeks. As a result of untimely treatment, such a disease can cause inflammation of the middle ear, laryngitis, pneumonia, as well as the renal pelvis and individual (soft) membranes of the brain.

What disease can be infected through atmospheric air: adenoviral infection

Infectious diseases transmitted by airborne droplets can be divided into viral and bacterial.

Patients with diphtheria are administered anti-diphtheria serum, the early administration of which plays an exceptional role in saving the patient’s life. At the first complaint of a child about a sore throat or ear, you should call a doctor. A reliable way to prevent the disease is preventive vaccination with diphtheria toxoid. A patient suspected of diphtheria must be hospitalized.

Whooping cough

In general, the manifestations of the disease largely depend on the age of the child. This is especially true for infants, in whom the diphtheria process is most often localized on the mucous membrane of the nose, larynx, skin, and pharynx. A severe form is not observed in children of the first 6 months; in children from 6 months to a year it occurs much less frequently than in older children. Diphtheria occurs in a unique way in vaccinated children: diphtheria of the pharynx often resembles catarrhal or lacunar tonsillitis. Complications occur less frequently in vaccinated children. Sick children must be hospitalized. Bed rest is prescribed. For diphtheria of the pharynx, the oral cavity is irrigated with a 1% warm solution of boric acid. Anti-diphtheria antitoxic serum is injected intramuscularly. In case of respiratory failure, the patient is intubated. Food should be high-calorie and easily digestible. The patient is given semi-liquid, non-spicy food so as not to injure the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the sick child, breathing and heart function, measure pulse and blood pressure so as not to miss the development of possible complications (myocarditis, polyradiculoneuritis, etc.).

Sexually transmitted diseases are not only transmitted through sexual contact. The causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum, can enter the blood of a healthy person through small wounds on the skin and mucous membrane. This can happen when kissing, using razors, cigarettes, dishes and even clothes used by the patient. Having penetrated the body, the pathogen eventually spreads throughout the body, affecting the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, causing loss of sensation in the legs, damage to the skin, and internal organs. In advanced cases, the patient's teeth are affected and his nose collapses. Currently, this disease is successfully treated; it is only important to consult a doctor in time.

Gonorrhea, like syphilis, is transmitted through sexual contact, as well as through the patient’s belongings. The infection affects the external genitalia, and then the bladder and kidneys. This disease can be treated.

The human body does not develop immunity against these diseases, therefore, after being cured, a person can become infected and get sick again.

Statistics of tuberculosis in the world

Harm of smoking

Lungs' cancer

Urogenital herpes. The most common infection is through sexual intercourse or kissing. The spread of infection occurs during genital (field) and orogenital (oro-genital) and anal sexual intercourse, as well as during childbirth. There may be autoinfection, when the patient, without observing personal hygiene, himself transfers the virus from the lesion to healthy parts of the body (eyes, hands, face, oral cavity, genitals).

Symptoms Herpes is manifested by the appearance of erythema, blisters, ulcers at the site of the lesion, and in newborns - meningoencephalitis. The virus can also cause condylomas - growths of the epidermis on the genitals in the form of genital warts, which can degenerate into cancer.

Candidiasis- fungi that affect the entire genitourinary tract. The route of transmission is through sexual contact, but there may also be provoking factors: pregnancy, the use of IUDs and oral contraceptives, as they change the pH of the vagina and the protective function decreases.

All sexually transmitted infections cause inflammatory processes of the genitourinary organs, the complications of which are infertility, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, prostatitis and impotence.

Immunity is not developed after these infections.

Treatment (features):

8. Meningococcal infection

Meningococcus Neisseria meningitidis is the most insidious infectious agent among the especially dangerous ones. The body is affected not only by the pathogen itself, but also by toxins released during the decay of dead bacteria. The carrier is only a person, it is transmitted by airborne droplets, through close contact. Mostly children and people with weakened immune systems fall ill, about 15% of the total number of those in contact. An uncomplicated disease - nasopharyngitis, runny nose, sore throat and fever, without consequences. Meningococcemia is characterized by high fever, rash and hemorrhages, meningitis by septic brain damage, meningoencephalitis by paralysis. Mortality without treatment is up to 70%, with timely started therapy – 5%.

There are many infectious diseases in medicine. The most relevant of them are considered to be diseases spread by airborne droplets. A person cannot live without air, and when in contact with people, he may not even realize that he is sick. These infections are easy to catch, especially for people with weakened immune systems and children. In the article we will inform you about airborne diseases and their characteristics.

Any infection has a route by which it is transmitted. These are the many factors that are necessary for the pathogen to spread from its source to another organism. There is a large list of diseases transmitted through droplets of saliva and air. This most often happens during sneezing or coughing. Saliva can fly up to 7 meters. You can become infected by simply talking to a sick person at close range.

Outwardly, it is very difficult to understand what is wrong with a random passerby or your interlocutor. It could be a common cold, but there are quite a few serious infections transmitted this way. The list includes the following illnesses:

· ARVI and influenza.

Mononucleosis.
Meningococcal infection.
Chicken pox.
Parawhooping cough and whooping cough.
Scarlet fever.
Measles.
Legionellosis.
Parotitis.
Respiratory chlamydia.
Tuberculosis.
Mycoplasmosis.

You should be careful when you notice a person sneezing or coughing. You need to be afraid of serious illnesses, not colds. After all, for some infections the infectiousness index is so high that pathogens can easily spread through ventilation and through floors, which facilitates their transmission.

Flu and ARVI

Respiratory diseases are primarily transmitted by airborne droplets. The first places among them are occupied by various acute respiratory viral infections and influenza. Symptoms for them will be body aches, fever, malaise and changes in the respiratory tract:

With adenoviral ARVI, tonsillitis with conjunctivitis also manifests itself, which is different from other diseases. Some of them are quite mild, while others can lead to life-threatening complications (pulmonary edema, pneumonia, meningitis).

Mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis manifests itself with prodromal phenomena: loss of appetite, headaches, malaise and weakness. A little later, fever begins and obvious signs diseases:

Enlarged lymph nodes.
A sore throat.
Spleno- and hepatomegaly (reaction of the spleen and liver).

Some people develop a rash on their skin. Atypical mononuclear cells (virocytes) appear in the blood. Complications are noted: Guillain-Barré syndrome, myocarditis, meningoencephalitis, myocarditis.

Diphtheria is considered dangerous infection in childhood. It is characterized by specific inflammation of the tonsils. A characteristic feature of this disease is the formation of whitish-gray films, which are very difficult to remove from the surface. They create an obstacle to breathing. There is redness around the tonsils, and swelling may develop that spreads to the neck. Without the introduction of serum, this infection progresses quite quickly, developing shock, nephritis, myocarditis, and neuropathy.

Meningococcal infection

Meningococcus occurs in widespread or localized forms. In the second case, we are talking about carrier state or nasopharyngitis. Of particular danger to the body are generalized forms manifested in the form of sepsis and meningitis. When the soft head membrane is damaged, the main symptoms are:

Fever.
Headache.
Nausea and vomiting.
Meningeal signs (Kerning's, Brudzinski's, Lesage's signs, stiff neck, gundog posture).

The pathogen penetrates the blood and causes a septic condition, which leads to infectious-toxic shock, hemorrhagic rash, and damage to internal organs.

This infection can have serious consequences, so it is very important to recognize it early.

Patients with diphtheria are administered anti-diphtheria serum, the early administration of which plays an exceptional role in saving the patient’s life. At the first complaint of a child about a sore throat or ear, you should call a doctor. A reliable way to prevent the disease is preventive vaccination with diphtheria toxoid. A patient suspected of diphtheria must be hospitalized.

Whooping cough is also transmitted by airborne droplets. Typical sign This disease is characterized by a dry cough. Gradually it intensifies and appears in the form of attacks ending in the discharge of sputum or vomiting. In children, the face turns blue, red, and swells, the tongue protrudes, and the veins swell. Complications may include emphysema, hemorrhages, pneumonia, and hernias.

Varicella (chickenpox)

Varicella zoster virus is also an airborne pathogen. It causes a disease, a sign of which is a vesicular-type rash on the body. These are small formations filled with liquid. They first form on the scalp, then spread throughout the body, affecting the mucous membranes. When scratching the rash, erosions form in their place, followed by crusts. In children the infection is mild, but in adults it is severe and sometimes with complications.

Measles

Pathogen moves long distances. When measles appears, you can become infected with it while being on another floor and in another apartment. Children who are with a sick child have a very high risk of contracting the disease. Measles is not transmitted through third objects.

The disease begins with a headache and fever. The disease is accompanied by cough, runny nose, and sneezing. Watery eyes and photophobia develop. On the mucous membrane of the cheeks, opposite the small molars, groups of whitish elevations are formed, surrounded by a red border. This sign will allow you to make an accurate diagnosis before the characteristic rash appears. With measles, the rash begins in the center of the face and behind the ears, then within 24 hours spreads to the neck and upper chest.

On the second day the rash covers the entire torso and the beginning of the limbs, on the third day amazes and entire limbs. The rash initially appears as pink bumps with a red border, and then these bumps merge together into red spots.

Antibiotics are not used for measles, so fresh air, good care, a nutritious diet and plenty of fluids are more conducive to a quick recovery.

A disease related to childhood infections and transmitted by airborne droplets. The disease begins with malaise, sore throat, runny nose, cough (prodromal phenomena) and low-grade fever. The disease has specific signs:

The course of the disease is usually favorable. But in pregnant women, the rubella virus causes very dangerous complications for the unborn child, and if infected in late pregnancy, the child may be born infected with the infection.

Scarlet fever

This is one of the most common infections in children. When the disease occurs, the pathogen is transmitted through the air or through saliva. When scarlet fever appears in a house, the infection rarely spreads to adjacent rooms if the residents do not communicate with each other. Infection usually occurs through things that a child often puts in his mouth. Children aged 2 to 7 years are more likely to get sick. Scarlet fever after 15 years is very rare.

Onset of the disease acute. It manifests itself as increased weakness and temperature. Pain appears almost immediately when swallowing, and the tonsils become bright red with a coating. The rash is the main symptom of scarlet fever; it appears on the first day of the disease. It first appears on the upper torso and neck, then spreads to the limbs and face. The rash is pinpoint, red or bright pink, the center of the spot is more intensely colored than its periphery. When pressure is applied to the skin, the rash forms a white spot and then returns to a reddish color.

The patient's face takes on a characteristic appearance - stands out white triangle of nasolabial against the background of red cheeks and forehead. If you identify these symptoms in your child, call a doctor as soon as possible and start treatment to avoid complications. For prevention, a child can get out of bed only at the end of the first week of illness; he needs to drink frequently and eat liquid and semi-liquid food. The doctor should prescribe antibacterial therapy.

Epidemic mumps (mumps)

This is an acute infectious disease that affects up to 15 years of age; characterized by inflammation of the glandular organs and sometimes the development of serous meningitis.

The causative agent is a virus of the family paramyxoviruses, which is unstable in the external environment. The pathogen is introduced into various organs through the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose. The parotid glands are often affected, in which the phenomenon of periparotitis develops. After the disease, a very strong immunity is created.

The incubation period lasts from 12 to 22 days. The disease begins with an increase in temperature, painful swelling of the glands, especially the parotid glands. The sublingual and submandibular salivary glands are often involved. The swelling decreases from 3-4 days along with a decrease in temperature and usually disappears completely by the 10th day. Orchitis often occurs in young men and adolescents, and sometimes acute pancreatitis (damage to the pancreas) occurs. The prognosis of the disease is favorable. Very rarely, damage to the ear leads to permanent deafness. The consequence of orchitis, especially bilateral, can be testicular atrophy with impaired generative functions.

Prevention diseases. The patient is isolated for 9 days at home. Hospitalization is carried out only in severe cases of the disease. Children under ten years of age are subject to separation for 21 days. Active immunization with the vaccine is carried out for children simultaneously with the measles vaccine at the age of 15-18 months.

Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis in children, a manifestation of a viral respiratory infection. Factors leading to the disease are overheating or cooling, passive smoking, polluted air. The appearance of the disease preceded headache, runny nose, fever, weakness, hoarse voice, conjunctivitis, chest pain. Cough is the main manifestation, initially dry, then more wet and mild. Children sometimes complain of chest pain, which gets worse when coughing. Children do not cough up mucus like adults.

Obstructive bronchitis in a child is diagnosed in the presence of whistling, prolonged exhalation, dry wheezing, and swelling of the chest. The diseases are wave-like: fluctuations in cough intensity, body temperature and general condition. Bronchitis lasts, in general, more than a month.

Sinusitis and otitis are typical complications. Pneumonia is the most common complication.

Recurrent bronchitis diagnose if the child has had several cases of illness with cough and other symptoms of acute bronchitis over the course of a year, but without asthmatic components. Recurrent bronchitis, which lasts more than five years, is a harbinger of chronic bronchitis.

For the disease mainly defeat palatine tonsils, which are located on both sides of the soft palate. Most often, the disease is caused by streptococci, which fall into the throat upon contact with a person with a sore throat. Microbes, under the influence of unfavorable conditions, become active. For some, just eating ice cream or swimming in cool water is enough to make them sick.

The onset of the disease is acute, with heaviness in the head, malaise, dryness and pain when swallowing. It seems that the throat has narrowed and the temperature is rising. The tonsils turn red and enlarge, and a purulent coating forms on them.

Sore throat is a very insidious disease that has influence for the whole body. It causes the development of inflammation in the kidneys, joint damage and rheumatism. For many, tonsillitis occurs periodically at intervals of several years and often develops into a chronic process.

Airborne diseases Diseases Routes of infection Causes Symptoms, lesions Prevention Influenza, acute respiratory infections Airborne infection viruses Cough, runny nose, high temperature. Mucosal lesions. Isolation of patients, wet cleaning.

Lung cancer Disease Routes of infection Pathogens Symptoms, lesions Prevention Lung cancer Tobacco smoke, hereditary predisposition virus Dry cough, malaise, damage to the nervous system and the whole body, epithelial tissue of the bronchi, tumor in the lungs. No smoking. Undergoing fluorography. Hospital treatment, surgery.

TEST What do we know about smoking? Do teenagers smoke to be like everyone else? Do most smokers enjoy smoking and have no intention of quitting? Is smoking tobacco one of the main causes of heart disease? Does exercise counteract the harm caused by smoking? Does smoking help you relax when you're nervous? Are non-smokers forced to suffer from respiratory diseases as a result of passive smoking?

7. 7. Does 1 liter of tobacco tar settle in the lungs of a person who smokes a pack of cigarettes every day for a year? There is nothing wrong with teenagers dabbling in cigarettes if they quit before smoking becomes a habit. Is one cigarette enough to increase heart rate, increase blood pressure, and disrupt normal blood supply and air circulation in the lungs? Is there anything wrong with teenagers dabbling in cigarettes if they quit before smoking becomes a habit?

Pulmonary tuberculosis Disease Routes of infection Pathogens Symptoms, lesions Prevention Tuberculosis Airborne infection, milk of sick animals Bacteria - Koch bacillus Weakness, low temperature, weight loss, hemoptysis. Lung damage Do not smoke Undergo fluorography. Isolation of patients, long-term treatment in a hospital. Wet cleaning and ventilation.

Chickenpox Disease Routes of infection Causes Symptoms, foci of infection Prevention Chickenpox Airborne infection The virus begins suddenly, the first rashes appear on the scalp and face in the form of red bumps, similar to pimples. Then the pimples turn into blisters, after which they burst, dry out and crust over. Rashes can even occur on the mucous membranes of the mouth and conjunctivae of the eyes, which is especially unpleasant. Apply brilliant green, maintain bed rest, and change bed linen regularly.

Biological significance of respirationBiological significance of respiration: Biological significance of respiration Providing the body with oxygen. Providing the body with oxygen. Removing carbon dioxide. Removing carbon dioxide. Oxidation of organic compounds BZHU with the release of energy necessary for human life. Oxidation of organic compounds BZHU with the release of energy necessary for human life. Removal of end products of metabolism (water vapor, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, etc.) Removal of end products of metabolism (water vapor, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, etc.)

Factors negatively affecting the respiratory system Environmental air pollution Environmental air pollution Smoking (tobacco smoke and tar) Smoking (tobacco smoke and tar) Improper breathing Improper breathing Pathogens of infectious diseases Pathogens of infectious diseases

Quiz Are you risking your lungs 1. Which organ, along with the lungs, suffers most from the effects of smoking? 2. What is the main cause of domestic fires that result in loss of life? 3. If a person smokes a cigarette every day for a year, how much tar is deposited in his lungs? 4. Is it true or false that smoking tobacco is highly addictive? 5. What does secondhand smoke mean? 6. Name three things that cannot be done at the same time while smoking? 7. Name three reasons why teenagers choose not to smoke.

Recommendations for respiratory hygiene Quitting bad habits - smoking Quitting bad habits - smoking Ventilate the room, do wet cleaning Ventilate the room, do wet cleaning Walk more often in the fresh air in squares and parks Walk more often in the fresh air in squares and parks fortified nutrition fortified nutrition Physical training class Physical training class
Questions: 1. An infectious disease spread by airborne droplets. 2. Respiration, which carries out gas exchange between blood and tissue cells. 3. The membrane covering the lung. 4. Inflammation of the frontal sinus. 5. Exchange of gases between cells and the environment. 6. Gas exchange occurs in them. 7. A wide tube consisting of cartilaginous half-rings with a soft side. 8. The process by which the lungs create air currents that vibrate the vocal cords of the larynx.

10. A cavity consisting of several winding passages, divided by a solid partition into left and right parts. 11. Tumor-like proliferation of lymphoid tissue at the exit from the nasal cavity into the nasopharynx. 12. Inflammation of the tonsils. 13. Thyroid cartilage of men. 14. Cavity related to the upper respiratory tract. 15. Breathing, which ensures gas exchange between air and blood. 16. The process when, when breathing, water evaporates from the surface of the lungs, which leads to cooling of the blood and the entire body.

Do you know what diseases are transmitted by airborne droplets? If you don’t know anything about such diseases, then we will talk about them in this article.

general information

By airborne droplets, they are characterized by the fact that infection occurs after close contact with a person who is a carrier of the infection (for example, when talking, coughing, yawning, sneezing, etc.). How does this happen? During contact with a patient, microscopic particles of mucous secretion emanate from him, which contain bacteria or viruses. They infect the upper respiratory tract and cause the development of the disease.

Very often, airborne diseases occur in the autumn-winter period. So what are these diseases? Let's list them right now.

Flu

Regular flu, as well as swine flu, can be caught within the first two days after the first symptoms appear in the carrier. What are the dangers of contact with an infected person? After damage to the upper respiratory tract, their functioning noticeably and quite quickly deteriorates, which allows toxins to enter the systemic bloodstream.

Regular and swine flu are characterized by chills, fever, body aches, discomfort when rotating the visual organs and pain in the head. A little later, these symptoms are joined by a cough, runny nose and lacrimation.

Respiratory infection

It is no secret that acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections are also transmitted through the air. After contact with a sick person, the patient may experience a runny nose and general malaise. If you do not start treatment on time, then these signs will include increased body temperature, sore throat, decreased appetite, etc.

A respiratory infection is one that occurs when the seasons change. Therefore, after contact with an infected person, it is imperative to carry out all preventive measures in order to prevent the development of the virus.

Diphtheria

This is a rather dangerous disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets. Few people know, but even after the patient has fully recovered, the risk of infecting surrounding people remains very high for some time.

This disease causes intoxication. It is characterized by inflammatory processes that develop in the visual organs, pharynx, trachea, larynx and nose.

Diphtheria can be infected not only through the air, but also after using the patient’s items on which his secretion remains.

Meningococcal infection

How should airborne infections be treated? Only an experienced specialist can tell you this.

The disease in question is quite dangerous. It causes purulent damage to the membranes of the brain. With such an illness, a person experiences vomiting and lethargy, a sudden rise in temperature, and a rash forms during the first days.

Patients with diphtheria are administered anti-diphtheria serum, the early administration of which plays an exceptional role in saving the patient’s life. At the first complaint of a child about a sore throat or ear, you should call a doctor. A reliable way to prevent the disease is preventive vaccination with diphtheria toxoid. A patient suspected of diphtheria must be hospitalized.

Is this disease transmitted by airborne droplets? Of course. This disease is characterized by a spasmodic and rather intense cough. The pathology takes a very long time to develop. It begins with a common runny nose, as well as a slight increase in body temperature. Soon these symptoms are accompanied by a cough, which becomes intense and occurs in paroxysms.

If whooping cough is accompanied by severe suffocation, then treatment should be carried out only in a hospital.

Measles

This disease begins with coughing and sneezing, as well as a slight increase in body temperature. After this, photophobia, conjunctivitis and some puffiness of the face join the main symptoms of the disease. On the fourth day, pink spots form on the patient’s body, which last for about three days. All of the above symptoms persist until the patient recovers completely.

Scarlet fever

This disease is characterized by a sharp rise in body temperature up to 40 degrees. The patient also experiences flushing of the cheeks, vomiting and pain in the head. After this, the listed symptoms are accompanied by a rash, which is localized on the skin in flexible parts of the body.

Parotitis

How does infection occur? This disease is transmitted by airborne droplets through contact with a carrier. The disease is characterized by damage to the central nervous system and salivary glands. First, the patient feels a sharp deterioration in his general condition, and then loses his appetite and feels pain in the head. After this, his temperature rises and painful sensations occur near the neck and ears. In this case, these areas become very swollen.

Rubella

This disease affects the lymphatic system and human skin. It is not accompanied, but causes a short-term rise in body temperature. With this disease, the patient may have enlarged occipital and posterior cervical lymph nodes (the size of a pea). As a rule, when palpated they cause discomfort and pain. After a few days, an infected person develops a rash that starts on the face and neck and then spreads throughout the body. Very often, such rashes form in the bends of the limbs, on the back and buttocks. As a rule, a rubella rash lasts three days, after which it disappears without the appearance of pigmentation.

Polio

It affects the central nervous system and motor nuclei of the spinal cord. It provokes paralysis of the upper or lower limbs.

As you know, this disease is divided into two types:

Poliomyelitis is non-paralytic. It is characterized by signs of acute respiratory disease or influenza.
Paralytic poliomyelitis. This type of disease is much less common. It leads to impaired functioning of the musculoskeletal system and disability. It should also be noted that paralytic polio is the most dangerous form of the disease transmitted by airborne droplets.

Chicken pox

The source of infection of this disease is only a sick person. The child's susceptibility to smallpox is very high. Therefore, during an outbreak of disease in a kindergarten, almost all children get sick.

The symptoms of chickenpox are a small-spotted rash that spreads very quickly throughout the body. A week after the rash appears, it begins to dry out and peel off (no traces remain on the body).

Preventive actions

Now you know about airborne diseases. The main preventive measures to prevent infection are:

varied and nutritious diet;
proper organization of the daily routine (work and rest);
hardening;
regular ventilation of the room.

It should also be said that the prevention of airborne infections consists not only in avoiding places with large crowds of people (including during an epidemic) and isolating the patient, but also in the general improvement of the body and supporting the immune system. For example, with a lack of sleep and improper planning of work and rest, a person’s immune strength is very quickly weakened, which ultimately leads to an increased risk of infection.

It should also be noted that proper and balanced nutrition allows you to get all the necessary minerals and vitamins that heal the body and prevent infection or virus from developing. By the way, useful substances can be obtained not only from food, but also using multivitamin complexes purchased at the pharmacy.

How to treat?

Treatment of airborne infections is accompanied by bed rest and complete rest. If the patient has a fever, he is recommended to take an antipyretic. For coughs, the patient is prescribed antitussive drugs, and for rashes, skin gels and ointments.

In medical practice, there are a lot of infectious diseases. And perhaps the most relevant are those that are spread by airborne droplets. A person cannot live without breathing, and when in contact with a person, he may not know that he is sick. Therefore, it is very easy to become infected with such infections, especially for children. And in this aspect, it is important to be informed about what diseases are transmitted by airborne droplets and how they are characterized.

Any infection has a mechanism or route by which it is transmitted. This is a set of factors necessary for the spread of pathogens from a source to a susceptible organism. Many diseases are transmitted through air and droplets of saliva. This often happens when coughing or sneezing. After all, it is known that saliva can fly over quite an impressive distance (up to 7 meters). But you can also become infected through a normal conversation with a person at close range.

Of course, it is difficult to outwardly understand what is wrong with your interlocutor or a random passerby. It may be a common cold, but the list of airborne infections is quite impressive. It includes the following diseases:

Flu and ARVI.
Mononucleosis.
Diphtheria.
Meningococcal infection.
Chicken pox.
Whooping cough and parawhooping cough.
Rubella.
Scarlet fever.
Measles.
Parotitis.
Legionellosis.
Respiratory chlamydia.
Mycoplasmosis.
Tuberculosis.

Based on this, everyone should be especially careful when noticing a person coughing or sneezing. You need to be afraid not of a common cold, but of other diseases, some of which are quite serious. And for some infections, the index of contagiousness (infectiousness) is so high that pathogens can easily spread through floors and through ventilation ducts, which facilitates their transmission from the source.

There are a lot of airborne diseases. And only a doctor can deal with their diversity.