Page 193 - fourth year book

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (T.B)

Introduction

Despite the epidemiological transition, communicable disease

remains the leading cause of mortality, morbidity and disability.
Consequently, they pose major impediments to social and economic
well-being which made their prevention and control a necessity in recent
years.

The world is facing a double burden of communicable
and noncommunicable diseases. However, developing countries are
more exposed and more vulnerable due to a multitude of factors,
including geographic, demographic and socio-economic factors.

Definition and burden of communicable diseases

Communicable diseases are defined as infectious diseases that are
caused by agents called pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites)

and are easily transmitted by direct or indirect contact from an infected
person or animal to the susceptible host.

One-third of all morbidities and mortalities in the Eastern

Mediterranean Region (EMR) are attributed to communicable
diseases. WHO in 2011 reported that the most prevalent communicable
diseases in EMR are Vector-borne diseases (particularly malaria),
tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, STDs, measles and other vaccine-preventable
diseases.

In Egypt, the burden of disease attributable to communicable
diseases is 10.7% (WHO 2014), WHO reported that the hepatitis C has
been the most widespread and serious communicable disease over the
last 25 years followed by pulmonary tuberculosis.

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