Topic outline
Topic 1
Basic Concepts in the Transmission of Communicable Diseases
What are communicable diseases?
Endemic and epidemic diseases
Prevention and control measures
Factors involved in the transmission of communicable diseases
Infectious agents
Reservoirs of infectious agents
Route of exit
Modes of transmission
Route of entry
Susceptible hosts and risk factors
Natural history of a communicable disease
Stage of exposure
Stage of infection
Stage of infectious disease
Stage of outcome
Topic 2
Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases and Community Diagnosis
Introduction
Classification of communicable diseases
Clinical classification of communicable diseases
Epidemiologic classification
General approaches in the prevention and control of communicable diseases
Measures targeting the reservoir of infection
Measures targeting the mode of transmission
Measures targeting the susceptible host
Community diagnosis
Data collection
Data analysis
Prioritising health problems
Action plan
Topic 3
Bacterial Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Vaccines, immunity and vaccination
Overview of bacterial vaccine-preventable diseases
Tetanus
Definition, cause and occurrence of tetanus
Mode of transmission of tetanus
Clinical manifestations of tetanus
Treatment, prevention and control of tetanus
Meningococcal meningitis
Definition and cause of meningococcal meningitis
Mode of transmission and clinical symptoms
Diagnosis and treatment of meningitis
Prevention and control of meningococcal meningitis
Topic 4
Viral Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Overview of viral vaccine-preventable diseases
Measles
Definition, cause and occurrence of measles
Mode of transmission of measles
Clinical manifestations of measles
Treatment, prevention and control of measles
Poliomyelitis (polio)
Definition, cause and occurrence of polio
Mode of transmission and clinical manifestation of polio
Treatment and prevention of polio
Hepatitis B
Definition, cause and occurrence of hepatitis B
Mode of transmission and clinical manifestation of HBV
Treatment, prevention and control of hepatitis B
Topic 5
Malaria Epidemiology and Transmission
The burden of malaria
Malaria parasites
Life cycle of the malaria parasite
- Life cycle of malaria parasite
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Image library. http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp
Incubation period of malaria
Partial immunity to malaria
Life cycle of the mosquito vector
Eggs
Larvae
Pupae
Adult mosquitoes
Malaria transmitting vectors
Distinguishing Anopheles mosquitoes from other types
Eggs
Larvae
Pupae
Adults
Behaviour of mosquitoes that transmit malaria
Topic 6
Factors that Affect Malaria Transmission
Climatic factors
Temperature
Rainfall
Relative humidity
Combining the effects of climatic factors
Non-climatic factors
Malaria vectors
Malaria parasites
Water development projects
Urbanisation
Population movement and migration
Human host factors
Insecticide resistance in vectors
Drug resistance in malaria parasites
Interruption of control and prevention measures
Topic 7
Diagnosis of Malaria
Clinical diagnosis
The symptoms and signs of malaria
Course of malarial disease
How you can identify cases of malaria
Danger signs of severe malaria
Parasitological diagnosis of malaria
Introduction to rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria
How to use an RDT to get a malaria test result
How to read and interpret an RDT test result
Microscopic test for malaria
Topic 8
Malaria Case Management
Treatment of uncomplicated malaria
Treatment of uncomplicated malaria based on RDT confirmation
Treatment of uncomplicated malaria based on clinical diagnosis
Supportive treatment of uncomplicated malaria cases
Pre-referral treatment of severe malaria at the basic health facility
Management of malaria in special groups
Adherence to malaria treatment
The role of the health professional in malaria treatment
Key messages and instructions
Topic 9
Malaria Prevention: Environmental Management and Larviciding for Vector Control
Why are mosquito larval control strategies so important?
Larval control for malaria prevention
Environmental management for vector control
Environmental modification
Environmental manipulation
Common vector breeding grounds
Larviciding
Community participation and organisation of larval control measures
Other malaria prevention options
Topic 10
Malaria Prevention: Indoor Residual Spraying of Houses
Introduction to indoor residual spraying (IRS)
How does IRS reduce the mosquito population?
Spraying requirements
Choice of insecticides
Commonly used insecticides
Determining insecticide requirements
Housing units and structures to be sprayed with insecticide
Training of spray operators
Timing of spray operation
Preparation of houses before spraying
Undertaking IRS operations
Correct IRS procedures
What you need to do to support IRS
Safe handling of insecticides
Some problems related to house-spraying
Topic 11
Malaria Prevention: Insecticide Treated Nets
ITNs as a malaria prevention tool
How ITNs work
Types of ITNs
Mosquito net models
Rectangular nets
Circular nets
Deciding the number of ITNs per household
Methods of ITN distribution
Mass distribution (catch-up) of nets
Replacement or ‘keep-up’ distribution
Proper and sustained use of ITNs
The role of the health professional in education about ITNs
Monitoring ITN utilisation
Topic 12
Monitoring and Control of Malaria Epidemics
What is a malaria epidemic?
Factors that trigger epidemics
Environmental factors
Human factors
Parasite factors
Preparedness for malaria epidemics
Prevention of epidemics
Detection of malaria epidemics
Epidemic monitoring charts using ‘second largest number’ method
Doubling of cases in a week method
Epidemic control
Epidemic control measures
Active surveillance
Post-epidemic assessment
Assess adequacy of epidemic detection and response