Spring is a season in which infectious diseases are particularly prevalent and we must therefore pay extra attention to their prevention.

Common infectious diseases of the Spring include influenza, acute bacterial meningitis, measles, chickenpox, mumps, rubella, scarlet fever, and avian flu. Most of these infectious diseases are infectious respiratory diseases that can be transmitted through the air, either via short distance droplets or contact with respiratory secretions. In such a relatively concentrated area as a school campus, diseases propagate more readily than usual and can exert significant influence on teachers’ and students’ work, thus we must ensure a working understanding of Spring’s transmissible diseases and the appropriate preventative measures to take.

Common infectious diseases of spring:

1. Flu (influenza)

Influenza, commonly referred to as flu, is an acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. It is highly contagious, and has the highest incidence rate of infectious diseases. It has an incubation period of 1-3 days, the main symptoms are fever, headache, runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, aching muscles and joint pain, discomfort, fever usually lasting 3-4 days, comparatively heavy inflammation of the lungs or gastrointestinal discomfort. Flu can be transmitted by an infected person whether or not they are displaying symptoms. Transmission can be direct, via airborne droplets, or indirect, via contact with contaminated objects. Crowded groups are generally susceptible to influenza.

2. Meningitis (meningococcal meningitis)

Acute bacterial meningitis, also referred to simply as meningitis, is a serious illness spread via the respiratory tract and caused by meningococcus diplococcus bacteria. At onset, ECM has similar symptoms to cold, such as runny nose, cough, headache, and fever. After bacteria enter the cerebrospinal fluid, headache intensifies, accompanied by lethargy, stiff neck, and critical symptoms including projectile vomiting and coma or shock. Infection is transmitted primarily via contaminated air droplets from infected individuals; the incubation period is usually 2-3 days, up to a week at most. The disease spreads most easily in crowds and among children.

3. Measles

Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by the measles virus. Measles’ asymptomatic incubation period lasts between 8-12 days, recovery generally takes about 10 days. Typical clinical symptoms can be described as "three, three, and three” because they come in periods of three days: three days before the rash appears bring a moderate 38 degree fever accompanied by cough, runny nose, tearing, light sensitivity, and small gray dots on the mouth’s mucous membrane (a characteristic symptom); three days of rash: body temperature rises up to 40 degrees, and a red, irritable rash spreads gradually across the torso and upper and lower limbs; and recovery period of 3 days: three or four days after the rash appears, body temperature gradually begins to return to normal, rash begins to subside, often becoming brown and spotty before disappearing. Measles is spread by airborne respiratory droplets, infected persons are the only source of transmission. After recovering, immunity is gained, and recurrence is extremely rare. Those who have not received the measles vaccine are most susceptible, with rates of infection highest in children between six months and five years of age.

4. Chicken pox

Chickenpox is a highly infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The typical clinical manifestations of chickenpox are low fever, red rash, and rapid development of numerous small blisters. Blisters becomes turbid after 24 hours, easy to rupture, and then, drying, shrink from the center, quickly crusting. Clinical papules often show concentric distribution, that is, first on the trunk, then the head, face, limbs, and less commonly the hands and feet, the blisters are accompanied by a heavy itching sensation. Typical recovery, if there is no concurrent infection, usually comes within 7-10 days. The main source of infection is via infected persons. Transmission occurs via respiratory droplets and contact with the varicella virus through the contamination of utensils, toys, bedding and towels and other items. Children are generally most susceptible. The disease is highly contagious, and the patient should be kept in relative isolation until all rashes have resolved to dry scabs.

5. Mumps

Epidemic parotitis, commonly known as "mumps", is caused by the mumps virus. It is a systemic infectious disease that usually resolves in around two weeks. Typical clinical symptoms are fever, swelling and pain of the mandibles and cheeks under the ears; characteristic parotid gland enlargement typically centers around the ears, complications may include meningoencephalitis and acute pancreatitis. Mumps is transmissible for the first 9 days of presenting symptoms as well as during the last 6 days of the typically 16-18 day incubation period. More common in children and adolescents, long-term damage is rare, and long-lasting immunity is gained after the disease runs its course.

6. Rubella

Rubella, also known as “German measles” or “three day measles”, is an acute respiratory infection caused by the rubella virus most commonly encountered in the spring. Patients generally present with only a low-grade fever and light cold-like symptoms. 1-2 days after the disease’s onset a rash with roughly the same shape and distribution of the measles rash develops on the face and spreads to the body; it usually fades after a few days with no lingering signs, hence the name “three day measles”. Swollen lymph nodes, joint pains, headache and conjunctivitis are also common signs of the disease. Children and adults can both suffer from rubella, and are generally contagious for about a week before developing the rash and a week afterwards. Air droplets are the main route of transmission of rubella; it can also be transmitted via daily close contact. Rubella has no need for special treatment after diagnosis, observation, stay at home to clean the skin, eat digestible and nutritious liquid food or semi-liquid food, and get quiet rest.

7. Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is a major acute respiratory infection caused by group A streptococci. Early on, throat congestion, swollen tonsils, fever, sore throat, headache, nausea, and vomiting are typical symptoms. General fever and rash will occur within 24 hours after the start in the ear, neck, and upper chest, and will generally spread within one day to the whole body. The rash is bright red, pinhead-sized, resembling "goose bumps." If pressed with a finger, color will temporarily subside under pressure after more than 10 seconds the bright red color will return. Also present are facial congestion and flushing (but with no visible rash around the lips), paleness in the tongue and tip of the nose, and nipple redness. The sources of infection are scarlet fever patients and carriers, mainly through respiratory droplets, but also through direct contact. Children and adolescents are at highest risk. Treatment now has a high rate of success, so the disease’s potential harm has decreased, but early diagnosis and proper treatment are crucial.

8. Avian flu

“Avian influenza” refers to a group of infectious diseases caused by influenza viruses transmitted among birds. Avian influenza viruses can be divided into highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, mildly pathogenic avian influenza virus, and non-pathogenic avian influenza virus. The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is currently found only in two subtypes: H5 and H7. Due to the species barrier, the avian influenza virus rarely spreads to humans.

The Influenza virus can be classified into A, B, and C groups. Group A Influenza can be further divided, according to the characteristics of the virus, into 135 HxNx subtypes. The H7N9 subtype of avian influenza virus is one that in the past has only been found moving between poultry, with no past evidence of transmission to humans. Biologically, the recent H7N9 infections belong to the category of avian influenza.

Clinical manifestations: the disease primarily expresses in an acute inflammation of the lungs. Onset is rapid, and early symptoms include high fever (38 ° C or above), cough and other typical symptoms of respiratory tract infection. 5-7 days after onset patients may experience breathing difficulties and a progressive increase in lung inflammation, which in some cases can lead to the rapid development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and possible death.

Two, three basic aspects of the spread of infectious diseases:

Infectious diseases can spread within crowds, but at the same time there must be a source of infection, a route of transmission, and a susceptible population; if any of these three things are lacking, the spread of infectious disease will not occur.

The source of infection refers to a human or animal capable of distributing pathogens. Pathogens may exist and reproduce in the source of infection’s respiratory tract, digestive tract, blood, or other systems. They can further propagate via the source of infection’s excretions, secretions or other biological media (such as mosquitoes, flies, lice, etc.), spreading directly or indirectly to healthy individuals.

The route of transmission refers the channel by which pathogens travel from the source of infection to healthy individuals. Major routes of pathogen transmission are: through the air, through water, through food and drink, through direct contact, and through biological media.

Susceptible population refers to a population with a lack of immunity or increased susceptibility to a given disease. For example, children who have never contracted or been vaccinated against measles would be a population susceptible to measles.

Third, preventive measures:

Different infectious diseases call for different treatments, but the same basic precautions, as long as we pay attention to the following points, can be effective in reducing the incidence and spread of disease.

1. Reasonable diet, increased nutrition, increased fluid intake, adequate intake of vitamins, food rich in high-quality protein, carbohydrates, and minerals, such as lean meat, jujube, honey, fresh vegetables, fruits, etc.; active participation in physical exercise, more trips outside and out of town to breathe fresh air, daily walks, jogging, gymnastics, tai-chi, etc., such as to ensure unobstructed blood flow, stretch the muscles, and increase physical fitness.

2. Avoid places with concentrated crowds and unclean air such as farmers markets, individual eateries, and recreational activity room.

3. Wash hands regularly and thoroughly with running water, and do not dry them with dirty towels.

4. Open windows for ventilation every day, keep indoor air fresh, especially in dormitories, computer rooms, classrooms, etc.

5. Reasonably arrange work and rest, establish a healthy daily routine; avoid excessive fatigue and take measures against colds to maintain resistance to disease.

6. Do not eat unclean or unprocessed food, including raw seafood and meat, remove the skin of fruit, and avoid drinking unboiled water. Do not throw out and pile up garbage at random, garbage should be sorted and destroyed.

7. Pay attention to personal hygiene, and do not casually spit and sneeze.

8. If you experience a fever or other discomfort, seek timely medical treatment; after coming home, wear a mask and wash your hands frequently to avoid cross-infection.

9. Avoid contact with infected individuals, and as much as possible stay away from areas where the disease has spread.

10. Items and rooms used by infected individuals should be appropriately sterilized; for instance, clothes and bedding should be allowed to dry in the sun.

Although many types of infectious disease are commonly encountered in the Spring, as long as we emphasize prevention, early discovery, early isolation, early diagnosis, and early treatment, we can effectively preclude their spread.