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Author: M.S.c. M.D. Ivan Juan Padrón Rendón

What is an infectious disease?
An infectious disease is caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. These diseases can be transmitted from one person to another, through insects, animals or the environment.

What is the difference between an infectious disease and a transmissible disease?
Infectious diseases are diseases caused by germs (such as bacteria, viruses and fungi) that spread from person to person, are transmitted by insects or other animals, or are present in the air, water, food or soil. A contagious disease spreads from person to person or from animal to person.

How do infectious diseases spread?
There are different ways that an infectious disease can spread, depending on the type of germ. This can include:
• Through direct contact with a person who is sick. This includes kissing, touching, sneezing, coughing, and sexual contact.
• Through indirect contact, when you touch something that has germs on it.
• Through insect or animal bites
• Through contamination of food, water, soil, or plants

What are the symptoms of infectious diseases?
Infectious diseases can cause many different symptoms. Some are so mild that you may not even notice them, while others can be life-threatening. We will detail the symptoms of each in the articles we publish.

What are the treatments for infectious diseases?
There are treatments for some infectious diseases, such as antibiotics and antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic drugs. But for other infections, such as some caused by viruses, you can only treat your symptoms while your immune system fights off the germs, hence the importance of maintaining a competent immune system.

What recommendations should we follow to keep our immune system strong and healthy?
1. Healthy, balanced diet.
2. Regular physical activity.
3. Adequate rest (get enough sleep).
4. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
5. Keep your vaccinations up to date.
6. Adequate personal hygiene.

Who are sick and avoid close contact. If you are sick, keep your distance from other people to prevent them from getting sick too. Maintaining physical distance from others can help reduce the risk of spreading a respiratory virus. Stay home if you are sick.
3. Vaccines: Keep your vaccinations up to date to protect yourself against preventable diseases.
4. Respiratory hygiene: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard used tissues immediately.
5. Wear a mask: Masks have proven to be an effective measure to prevent contagion, and should be worn by both sick people to avoid the spread of contaminated respiratory secretions, and by healthy people to avoid inhaling these particles.
6. Do not share personal items: Avoid sharing utensils, glasses and other personal items with people who may be sick.
7. Food hygiene: Wash fruits and vegetables well, cook food at the right temperature and drink drinking water.
8. Avoid touching your face: Reduce the risk of contagion by avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with dirty hands.
9. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: balanced diet, physical activity, sufficient rest (sleep), and monitor your health.
10. Personal hygiene measures: bathe daily, brush your teeth, keep your nails short and clean.
11. Avoid contact with wild animals in areas where wild animals are known to be carriers or transmitters of diseases.
12. Use a latex condom every time

IMPORTANT: These tips help reduce the risk, but they do not eliminate it completely, and no single measure is sufficient on its own, so it is better to incorporate them all into your daily life.



Wash your hands frequently
Hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective way we all have to avoid the spread of infections that are transmitted through contact. Hands should be washed with soap and water, although, if soap and water are not available, they can be replaced with hydroalcoholic solutions. For washing to be truly effective, it must be done using sufficient time (40-60 seconds) and using the proper technique.

Here are the essential steps for hand washing according to the World Health Organization (WHO):1. Wet: Wet your hands with running water.
2. Apply soap: Use enough soap to cover the entire surface of your hands.
3. Rub: Rub the palms of your hands together.
4. Back of hands: Rub the palm of one hand against the back of the other hand, interlacing the fingers. Repeat with the other hand.
5. Between fingers: Rub the palms of your hands together, interlacing the fingers.
6. Fingers and nails: Rub the backs of the fingers of one hand against the palm of the opposite hand, grasping the fingers. Repeat with the other hand.
7. Thumbs: Rub the thumb of one hand against the palm of the opposite hand, rotating. Repeat with the other thumb.
8. Fingertips: Rub the tips of the fingers of one hand against the palm of the opposite hand in a circular motion. Repeat with the other hand.
9. Rinse: Rinse your hands thoroughly under running water.
10. Dry: Dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel.
The entire process should take between 40-60 seconds. It also recommends using disposable towels to turn off the tap, if possible.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a specific technique for hand hygiene using alcohol solutions
1. Apply the solution: Spray a sufficient amount of the alcohol solution on the palms of your hands to cover all surfaces.
2. Rub: Rub your hands together, making sure to cover all areas: palms, backs of hands, between fingers and under nails.
3. Let dry: Let your hands air dry completely. Do not rinse them with water after applying the solution.
It is important to use a solution that contains between 60% and 95% alcohol.

Correct use of the mask
Use a mask both indoors and outdoors and in public places. The mask has proven to be an effective measure to prevent contagion, and should be worn by both sick people to prevent the spread of contaminated respiratory secretions, and by healthy people to avoid inhaling these particles.
For the mask to be effective, you must consider the following recommendations:
• It must cover the nose, mouth and chin.
• It must fit perfectly to our face and not leave gaps through which air can pass. Pinch the nose clip to fit it tightly to the nose.
• While you are using it, do not touch it, it may be contaminated. If you do, perform hand hygiene immediately afterwards.
• Remove it by the fasteners, without touching the front part, throw it away in a closed container and wash your hands afterwards.
• If it becomes wet or damaged, it should be replaced with another one.
• Do not remove it to cough, sneeze, talk on the phone, always keep it on.
9. Cleaning and disinfection: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States reported that it considers the risk of contagion through surfaces to be low, but it is recommended to clean frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, door handles, light switches, countertops, railings, desks, telephones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, and dishwashers
10. Other general care measures.

For more information visit:
https://www.saludcastillayleon.es/es/covid-19-poblacion/puedo-hacer-evitar-transmision/medidas-prevencion-evitar-transmision-virus
https://espanol.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/hygiene.html
https://www.msdmanuals.com/es/hogar/infecciones/biolog%C3%ADa-de-las-enfermedades-infecciosas/prevenci%C3%B3n-de-la-infecci%C3%B3n
https://www.msd.es/stories/prevencion-en-salud/
https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/infectiousdiseases.html
https://previnsa.com/prevencion-enfermedades-infecciosas-en-el-trabajo/
https://www.minsalud.gov.co/sites/rid/Lists/BibliotecaDigital/RIDE/VS/PP/PAI/manual-prevencion-iaas.pdf
https://www.who.int/es/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/es/physical-health/article/prevencion-de-enfermedades-infecciosas-en-los-programas.