Communicable diseases can be passed from person to person, while noncommunicable diseases cannot. Noncommunicable diseases are chronic and caused by lifestyle factors. Different treatments are required for each type of disease. The line between the two can be blurred, as some chronic diseases are caused by infectious organisms.
Communicable disease refers to diseases that can be passed from one person to another. Noncommunicable diseases occur in one person and cannot be passed on to another person. Communicable diseases are also known as infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases are referred to as chronic. Communicable and noncommunicable diseases usually require different treatments.
The separation of the disease into communicable and non-communicable diseases is useful for developing prevention and control strategies. The distinction does not mean that one group is inherently more dangerous than the other, although the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 60% of deaths worldwide are caused by noncommunicable diseases. Communicable diseases are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries than in developed countries.
According to WHO, there are four types of noncommunicable diseases. These are cardiovascular diseases, tumors, non-infectious diseases of the respiratory system and diabetes. The main causes of these diseases are related to lifestyle. Lack of exercise, smoking, unhealthy diet and alcohol abuse are all important causes.
An important difference between communicable and noncommunicable diseases is that noncommunicable diseases tend to be chronic, meaning they last a long time and progress slowly. Communicable diseases are more likely to be acute, which means that the disease develops rapidly. Both types of disease may require medication, but NCDs may be best treated with lifestyle changes.
Communicable diseases are caused by infectious organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Viruses and parasites can also be transmitted from person to person or animal to person. A communicable disease can spread directly from person to person, such as a cold or flu virus.
It can also spread indirectly from one person to another. Malaria is an example of indirect transmission. To illustrate, an infected mosquito feeds on and subsequently infects a person. Then, another mosquito can feed on that person, picking up the parasite and infecting the next person it feeds on.
Each region of the world has its own particular communicable disease profile as infectious organisms may require certain environmental conditions to thrive. For example, malaria is common in sub-Saharan Africa, tuberculosis is a problem in Asia, and the hepatitis C virus affects millions of Americans. Some infectious diseases, such as polio, can be prevented by mass vaccination.
The line between communicable and noncommunicable diseases is sometimes blurred. Some chronic diseases are actually caused by an infectious organism when previously thought to be unrelated to infection. Cervical cancer is one such case; it is caused by the human papilloma virus. Also, the Epstein-Barr virus can cause various types of lymphoma. Research is underway on other chronic diseases to see if they are caused by communicable diseases.
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