Among the various types of diseases, infectious and non-infectious are the most common. They differ significantly in treatment and care approaches. Knowing the differences will help you identify potential symptoms.
Pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi primarily cause infectious diseases. However, non-infectious diseases are influenced by environmental factors and cannot spread from one person to another. They are also known as communicable and non-communicable diseases, respectively.
To understand their nature, we must differentiate between the key aspects of the diseases. Here is a comparison table for the same:
Aspect | Infectious Disease | Non-infectious Disease |
Cause | They are caused by pathogens such as protists, viruses, bacteria and fungi | No transmissions involved and they are caused Result from internal factors like genetic abnormalities, aging, autoimmune issues, lifestyle choices, or environmental influences. |
Spread By | Living organisms | No transmission |
Nature | Communicable | Non-communicable |
Medium | Through air, water, direct contact, lack of proper hygiene, etc | Does not spread |
Example | Cold, flu, COVID-19, etc | Cancer, diabetes, hypertension, etc |
Role of Community | Community and societal hygiene can reduce the risk and occurrence of this disease. | Societal hygiene is ineffective in reducing the occurrence of diseases. |
Infectious diseases can be classified based on the pathogen that causes them. Let us discuss below:
Single-celled microorganisms cause bacterial infections. Examples include:
Viruses, which are smaller than bacteria and spread by multiplying themselves, cause this. Examples of viral infections are:
Yeasts and moulds are the primary cause of fungal infections. Some examples are:
Parasite live on or in the host bodies and obtain nourishment from them. Examples are given below:
Prion Diseases also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are mainly caused by faulty proteins that lead other protein become faulty too. However, Prions are an extremely rare cause of communicable diseases.
Symptoms of infectious diseases is based on the types of infections. Fungal infections generally cause symptoms like itching and rashes. While, bacterial and viral infections can show symptoms in many areas of your body, such as cough, chills, fever, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, headache, muscles ache and stuffy or runny nose etc.
Different infections spread in different ways, including:
From a pregnant woman to the new-born or foetus
Non-infectious diseases are not caused by living organisms. There are several types of them. Let us discuss some of them below:
Abnormalities in genes or chromosomes passed from parents to offspring cause genetic disease. For example:
Unhealthy habits such as poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, or alcohol consumption can cause lifestyle-related diseases.
Examples include:
Lack of essential nutrients in the diet, such as vitamins, minerals, and protein, may cause nutritional deficiency diseases. These include:
Infectious and non-infectious diseases are preventable, to a certain extent. By practising proper hygiene, you can limit your contact with bacteria and viruses. Moreover, drink clean water and cover your face when sneezing or coughing.
Non-infectious diseases are mainly caused by lifestyle choices. Therefore, ensure that you follow a proper diet enriched with essential nutrients. If you smoke, quit smoking. It is one of the leading causes of cancer in the world.
Knowing the difference between infectious and non-infectious diseases is crucial. Their differences help you understand potential symptoms and act on them.
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