Hello Everyone,

Before that sharing a glass of champagne or a New Year’s kiss you may want to consider a few of the common and not so common

Communicable Diseases:

Herpes

Most people get Type 1 infections, which cause cold sores, during infancy or childhood. They usually get it from close contact with family members or friends who carry the virus. It can be transmitted by kissing, sharing eating utensils, or by sharing towels. The sores most commonly affect the lips, mouth, nose, chin, or cheeks and occur shortly after exposure. Patients may barely notice any symptoms or find these sores annoying and seek medical attention.

Most people get Type 2 infections, which cause genital sores, following sexual contact with an infected person. The virus affects anywhere between five and twenty million people, up to 20% of all sexually active adults in the United States.

The lesions of both types of herpes simplex, can be spread by touching an unaffected part of the body immediately after touching a herpes lesion.

Meningitis

Meningitis typically results from contagious infections. Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette. You're also at increased risk if you live or work with someone who has the disease.

Careful hand washing is important to avoiding exposure to infectious agents. Teach your children to wash their hands often, especially before they eat and after using the toilet, spending time in a crowded public place or petting animals. Show them how to wash their hands vigorously, covering both the front and back of each hand with soap and rinsing thoroughly under running water. In addition, maintain your immune system by getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

The flu (influenza) viruses

Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is an illness caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. Compared with most other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza (flu) infection often causes a more severe illness with a mortality rate (death rate) of about 0.1% of people who are infected with the virus. Unusually severe worldwide outbreaks (pandemics) have occurred several times in the last 100 years since influenza virus was identified in 1933. By an examination of preserved tissue, the worst influenza pandemic occurred in 1918 when the virus caused between 40 to 100 million deaths with a mortality rate estimated to range from 2% to 20%.

Influenza viruses continually change over time, usually by mutation (change in the viral RNA). This constant changing often enables the virus to evade the immune system of the host (humans, birds, and other animals) so that the host is susceptible to changing influenza virus infections throughout life. This process works as follows: a host infected with influenza virus develops antibody against that virus; as the virus changes, the "first" antibody no longer recognizes the "newer" virus and re-infection can occur. The first antibody may in some instances provide partial protection against re-infection with an influenza virus.

Type A viruses are divided into types based on differences in two viral surface proteins called the hemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N). There are 16 known H subtypes and nine known N subtypes. These surface proteins can occur in many combinations. When spread by droplets or direct contact, the virus, if not killed by the host's immune system, replicates in the respiratory tract and damages host cells. The best prevention for the flu is a flu shot.

Sore Throat

The dry scratchiness and painful swallowing that are the hallmarks of a sore throat can be miserable. Yet a sore throat isn't a disease. Most often, it's a symptom of another illness — such as the common cold or the flu. In many cases, a sore throat is the first indication that you're getting sick.

Sore throats are a common reason that people visit their doctors, but many of those visits aren't necessary. Most sore throats go away on their own in about a week. Only a small percentage may require medical care.

Bacterial infections that cause sore throats are sometimes treated with antibiotics. But antibiotics aren't effective against viruses, the cause of most illnesses that result in a sore throat. In that case, your best response is self-care measures including rest and plenty of liquids.

Signs and symptoms

A sore throat — known medically as pharyngitis — usually occurs along with other signs and symptoms. These can vary considerably, depending on the type of infection you have. Most often, a sore throat accompanies a viral infection, such as a common cold or the flu. You can usually distinguish between the two based on your sore throat symptoms.

Sore throat with common cold
For example, in addition to a sore throat, a common cold is likely to cause:

·                                 Sneezing

·                                 Watery eyes

·                                 Cough

·                                 A low fever — less than 102 F

·                                 Slight body aches or mild headache

Sore throat with influenza
Influenza, on the other hand, is usually marked by:

·                                 Fatigue

·                                 Body aches

·                                 Chills

·                                 Sweats

·                                 A fever higher than 102 F

Sore throat with mononucleosis
Mononucleosis (mono) is another viral illness associated with a severe sore throat. Although signs and symptoms of the disease typically last about 10 days, it can take weeks to recover your strength after a bout of mono. In addition to a sore throat, mononucleosis may cause:

·                                 Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits

·                                 Swollen tonsils

·                                 Headache

·                                 Skin rash

·                                 Loss of appetite

·                                 Soft, swollen spleen

·                                 Liver inflammation

A sore throat can occur with a number of other viral and bacterial illnesses as well.

Causes

Most sore throats are caused by viruses — the same germs that cause colds and flu. A much smaller number are due to bacterial infections.

Viruses and bacteria both enter your body through your mouth or nose — either because you breathe in particles that are released into the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or because you have hand-to-hand contact with an infected person or use shared objects such as utensils, towels, toys, doorknobs or a telephone. Touch your eyes or nose after such contact and you're likely to become sick yourself.

Viral causes
Viruses that can cause a sore throat include:

    ·    Common cold viruses

    ·     Influenza

    ·    Mononucleosis

    ·    Measles

    ·   Chickenpox

    ·  Croup

Bacterial causes
Bacteria that can cause a sore throat include:

·                                 Strep throat

·                                 Tonsillitis

·                                 Diphtheria

·                                 Mycoplasma

·                                 Chlamydophila

·                                 Gonorrhea

·                                 Other causes
Because the germs that cause sore throats are contagious, they can spread easily wherever large numbers of people congregate: schools, child care centers and offices. Even so, not all sore throats result from viral or bacterial infections.

Have a Healthy and Happy New Year!