Airborne Diseases

• Types
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Incidence
• Outlook
• Prevention

HEALTHLINE’S CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Stay informed with our live updates about the current COVID-19 outbreak. Also, visit our
coronavirus hub for more information on how to prepare, advice on prevention and treatment,
and expert recommendations.

You can catch some diseases simply by breathing. These are called airborne diseases.

Airborne disease can spread when people with certain infections cough, sneeze, or talk, spewing
nasal and throat secretions into the air. Some viruses or bacteria take flight and hang in the air or
land on other people or surfaces.

When you breathe in airborne pathogenic organisms, they take up residence inside you. You can
also pick up germs when you touch a surface that harbors them, and then touch your own eyes,
nose, or mouth.

Because these diseases travel in the air, they’re hard to control. Keep reading to learn more about
the common types of airborne diseases and what you can do to protect yourself from catching
them.

Types of airborne diseases

Coronavirus and COVID-19

The CDC recommendsTrusted Source that all people wear cloth face masks in public places
where it’s difficult to maintain a 6-foot distance from others. This will help slow the spread of the
virus from people without symptoms or people who do not know they have contracted the virus.
Cloth face masks should be worn while continuing to practice physical distancing. Instructions
for making masks at home can be found hereTrusted Source.
Note: It’s critical to reserve surgical masks and N95 respirators for healthcare workers.

A rapidly spreading coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and the disease it causes, COVID-19, has been
responsible for millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths globally in 2020.
Information on coronavirus and COVID-19 is constantly being updated as a result.
While the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is not generally considered to be airborne, there
may be some situationsTrusted Source in which the virus can act like an airborne disease. These
include certain clinical settings in which people are receiving intensive medical treatment. In
usual situations, SARS-CoV-2 is spread through respiratory droplets after a person coughs or
sneezes, but these droplets are larger than what is considered airborne.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of
breath. If you experience these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.

The common cold

MillionsTrusted Source of cases of the common cold occur each year in the United States. Most
adults get two or three colds a year. Children tend to get them more frequently.

The common cold is the top reason for absences at school and work. There are many viruses that
can cause a cold, but it’s usually a rhinovirus.

Influenza

Most of us have some experience with the flu. It spreads so easily because it’s contagious about a
day before you notice the first symptoms. It remains contagious for another 5 to 7 days. If you
have a weakened immune system for any reason, you can spread it to others longer than that.

There are many strains of the flu, and they are constantly changing. That makes it difficult for
your body to develop immunities.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. If you have chickenpox, you can spread it for
a day or two before you get the telltale rash. It takes up to 21 days after exposure for the disease
to develop.

Most people get chickenpox only once, and then the virus goes dormant. Should the virus
reactivate later in life, you get a painful skin condition called shingles.

If you haven’t had chickenpox, you can contract it from someone with shingles.

Mumps

Mumps is another very contagious viral disease. You can spread it before symptoms appear and
for up to 5 days after. Mumps used to be quite common in the United States, but rates have
declined by 99 percentTrusted Source due to vaccination.

From January 1 to January 25, 2020, 70 cases in the United States were reported to the CDC.
Outbreaks tend to occur in densely populated environments.
Measles

Measles is a very contagious disease, particularly in crowded conditions.

The virus that causes measles can remain active in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours.
You’re able to transmit it to others up to 4 days before and 4 days after the measles rash appears.

Most people get the measles only once.

Measles is a leading cause of death among children worldwide and was responsible for 140,000
deathsTrusted Source in 2018. It’s estimated that the measles vaccine prevented around 23
million deaths from 2000 to 2018.

The disease is less common in the United States and occurs mostly in people who haven’t been
vaccinated. There were 1,282 casesTrusted Source reported in 2019. As of March 2, 2020, there
have been 12 confirmed cases in 2020.

Whooping cough (pertussis)

This respiratory illness causes swelling of the airways that results in a persistent hacking cough.
It’s at the height of contagiousness for about 2 weeks after the coughing starts.

Worldwide, there are about 24.1 millionTrusted Source cases of whooping cough every year,
resulting in 160,700 deaths.

In 2018Trusted Source, there were 15,609 reported cases in the United States.

Tuberculosis (TB)

TB, also known as consumption, is an airborne disease. This is a bacterial infection that doesn’t
spread easily. You generally have to be in close contact with a person who has it for a long time.

You can contract TB without becoming ill or transmitting it to others.

About 1.4 billion people worldwide have TB. Most aren’t sick. About 10 million people
worldwide have active TB.

People with a weakened immune system have the greatest risk of developing the disease.
Symptoms can appear within days of exposure. For some, it takes months or years to activate.

When the disease is active, bacteria rapidly multiply and attack the lungs. It can spread through
your bloodstream and lymph nodes to other organs, bones, or skin.

Diphtheria
Once a major cause of sickness and death in children, diphtheria is now rare in the United States.
Due to widespread vaccination, fewer than five cases have been reported in the past decade.

Worldwide, there were about 7,100 casesTrusted Source of diphtheria in 2016, but it may be
underreported.

The disease injures your respiratory system and can damage your heart, kidneys, and nerves.

Symptoms
Airborne diseases usually result in one or more of the following symptoms:

• inflammation of your nose, throat, sinuses, or lungs

Chickenpox causes an itchy rash that usually starts on your chest, face, and back before
spreading over the rest of your body. Within a few days, fluid-filled blisters form. The blisters
burst and scab over in about a week.

The measles rash can take as long as 7 to 18 days to appear after you’ve been exposed. It
generally starts on your face and neck, and then spreads over the course of a few days. It fades
within a week.

Serious complications of measles include:

• ear infections
• diarrhea
• dehydration
• severe respiratory infection
• blindness
• swelling of the brain, or encephalitis

Whooping cough gets its name from its main symptom, a severe hacking cough, which is usually
followed by a forceful intake of air.
Symptoms of TB vary depending on which organs or body systems are affected and may include
coughing up sputum or blood.

Diphtheria can cause marked swelling in your neck. This can make it difficult to breathe and
swallow.

Complications from airborne diseases are more likely to affect the very young, the very old, and
people with a compromised immune system.

READER SURVEY
Please take a quick 1 question survey

Your answers will help us improve our experience. You're the best!

Treatment for common airborne diseases

Some airborne diseases, such as chickenpox, have no targeted treatment. However, medications
and other supportive care can help relieve symptoms.

Some, such as the flu, can be treated with antiviral drugs.

Treatment for infants with whooping cough can include antibiotics, and hospitalization is often
needed.

There are drugs to treat and cure TB, although some strains of TB are drug resistant. Failure to
complete the course of medicine can lead to drug resistance and return of symptoms.

If caught early enough, diphtheria can be successfully treated with antitoxins and antibiotics.

Incidence
Airborne diseases happen all around the world and affect virtually everyone.

They spread easily in close quarters, such as schools and nursing homes. Large outbreaks tend to
occur under crowded conditions and in places where hygiene and sanitation systems are poor.

Incidence is lower in countries where vaccines are widely available and affordable.