Common diseases

Hello, Future Health Champion!

Have you ever missed a day of school because of a headache, a running stomach, or a fever? Of course, we all have! These sicknesses are caused by diseases. Think of them as unwelcome visitors in our bodies. But the good news is, we have the power to stop them from visiting! In today's lesson, we will become detectives and learn about the most common diseases in our beautiful Kenya, and most importantly, how to keep them away. Let's get started!

The Two Big Families of Diseases

Imagine all diseases belong to two big families: the ones you can 'catch' from others, and the ones you can't.

• Communicable Diseases: These are the 'social' diseases. They love to travel from one person to another, through coughs, sneezes, dirty water, or insect bites. They are infectious. Common examples in Kenya include Malaria, Cholera, Typhoid, Tuberculosis (TB), and the common cold.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): These are the 'personal' diseases. You can't catch them from your friend. They are often related to our lifestyle – what we eat, how much we exercise, and other habits. Examples include Diabetes, High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), and some types of Cancer.

Meet the Common Troublemakers

Let's shine a light on a few of the most common diseases we face and learn their secrets so we can defeat them!

1. Malaria: The Mosquito Menace

This is probably the most famous troublemaker, especially in the lake region and at the coast. It is caused by a tiny parasite spread by the bite of a specific mosquito – the female Anopheles mosquito.

        _.._
       / o \
       |   |
    _--'   '--_
   /           \
  |      o      |
   \._       _./
      '-----'
      /  |  \
     /   |   \
    '    |    '
         |
         |
        ---
    (Anopheles Mosquito)

Prevention is our superpower! Remember the 3 D's:

• Drain: Drain all stagnant water around your home where mosquitoes can lay eggs (old tires, pots, puddles).
• Dress: Wear long-sleeved clothes in the evenings to cover your skin.
• Defend: Always, always sleep under a treated mosquito net!

A Quick Story: Young Juma from Kisumu loved playing football until evening. He often forgot to use his mosquito net. One week, he felt very cold, then very hot, and his head ached terribly. His mother rushed him to the clinic, and the doctor said, "Juma, you have malaria." After getting his medicine, Juma never again forgot to sleep under his net. He learned that a simple net is a powerful shield!

Image Suggestion: [A vibrant and hopeful digital painting of a Kenyan family inside their home at dusk. A mother is carefully tucking a treated mosquito net around her two smiling children who are already in bed. The style should be warm and colourful.]

2. Cholera & Typhoid: The "Dirty Water and Hands" Diseases

These two are cousins who thrive in places with poor sanitation. They are bacterial infections spread through contaminated food and water. They cause terrible diarrhoea and vomiting, leading to dehydration.

We can fight them with a simple but powerful routine called WASH:

• W - Wash your hands with soap and running water, especially after using the latrine and before eating.
• A - Always drink clean water. If you are not sure, boil it or treat it.
• S - Use a proper latrine for Sanitation.
• H - Practice good personal and food Hygiene. Cook food well and cover it from flies.

Here is how they spread. Let's break the chain!

  Feces (from sick person) --+
                             |
         +-------------------+-------------------+
         |                   |                   |
         v                   v                   v
      Fluids (Water) -->  Fingers (Dirty) -->   Flies (Pests)
         |                   |                   |
         +--------+----------+-------------------+
                  |
                  v
                 Food
                  |
                  v
          New Person Gets Sick

3. Diabetes: The Lifestyle Disease

This is a non-communicable disease that is becoming more common in Kenya. It happens when your body has trouble controlling the amount of sugar in your blood. While some types are genetic, Type 2 Diabetes is often linked to our lifestyle.

Eating too many processed foods, sugary drinks, and not getting enough exercise can increase the risk. We can prevent it by making healthy choices!

• Eat a balanced diet. More sukuma wiki, githeri, and fruits; less soda, sweets, and chips.
• Stay active! Play football, run, dance, or simply walk. Your body will thank you.

A good way to check if your weight is in a healthy range for your height is by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). Let's try it!

### How to Calculate BMI ###

Formula: BMI = Weight (in Kilograms) / (Height (in Meters) * Height (in Meters))

Step 1: Get your weight in kg.
   - Let's say a student, Akinyi, weighs 45 kg.

Step 2: Get your height in meters.
   - Akinyi is 1.5 meters tall.

Step 3: Square the height (multiply it by itself).
   - 1.5 m * 1.5 m = 2.25 m²

Step 4: Divide the weight by the squared height.
   - 45 kg / 2.25 m² = 20

Result: Akinyi's BMI is 20. This is in the healthy range (18.5 - 24.9)!

Image Suggestion: [A bright, sunny outdoor shot of a group of diverse Kenyan students, in their school sports uniforms, joyfully playing a game of football on a school field. The focus is on action, health, and happiness.]

You are the Health Champion!

You now have the knowledge to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Being a Health Champion doesn't require a cape. It requires small, smart actions every single day.

• Wash your hands like you've just been handling pilipili!
• Sleep under a treated net every night. It's your shield against malaria.
• Eat a rainbow of foods – green from mboga, red from tomatoes, orange from mangoes.
• Drink clean or boiled water. Don't take chances!
• Get your vaccinations on schedule at the local clinic. They are your body's training for a real fight.
• Play outside. An active body is a strong body.

Remember, by staying healthy, you can attend school, play with your friends, and achieve your dreams. You have the power. Go on and be a Health Champion!

Habari Mwanafunzi! Welcome to Your Health Education Class!

Have you ever had a day where you just felt... off? Maybe a running nose that wouldn't stop, a headache, or a tummy ache that made you miss playing football with your friends? We all have! Those are signs our body is fighting something. Today, we are going to become Health Champions by learning about the common diseases right here in Kenya and, most importantly, how to keep them away from ourselves and our families. Let's begin!

What Exactly is a Disease?

Think of your body like a well-oiled machine, like a bicycle. When all parts are working, you can ride smoothly. A disease is like a puncture or a loose chain – it stops the machine from working properly. We can group diseases into two main teams:

• Communicable Diseases: These are the "sharing" diseases. They can spread from one person to another, like sharing a secret in class. Examples include Malaria, the common cold, and Cholera.
• Non-Communicable Diseases: These are "personal" diseases. You can't catch them from someone else. They are often related to lifestyle, genetics, or the environment. Examples include diabetes and high blood pressure.

Today, we'll focus on the common communicable diseases because these are the ones we can actively stop from spreading in our communities!

The "Usual Suspects": Common Diseases in Kenya

Let's investigate some of the most common diseases you might have heard about in your mtaa (neighbourhood) or on the news.

1. Malaria: The Mosquito's Unwanted Gift

Malaria is a serious disease caused by a tiny parasite. This parasite gets into our bodies through the bite of a specific type of mosquito – the female Anopheles mosquito. She is most active at night and in the early morning.

        _--_
       /    \
      |      |
      \.--._/
      /      \
     |        |
     \ ---.  /
      \    \/
     /       \
    /   .     \
   /   / \     \
  /   /   \     \
 /   /     \     \
/___/_______\_____\
\   \       /     /
 \   \     /     /
  \   \   /     /
   \___\ /_____/
        v
    (The Anopheles Mosquito)

• Symptoms: High fever, shaking chills, headache, and feeling very tired.
• Prevention is Key!
  • Always sleep under a treated mosquito net. It's like a shield while you sleep!
  • Clear bushes and tall grass around your home where mosquitoes love to hide.
  • Drain any stagnant water – in old tyres, tins, or puddles. This is where mosquitoes lay their eggs.

Image Suggestion: A warm, hopeful image of a Kenyan mother tucking her smiling child into bed under a protective blue mosquito net. The room is simple but clean, and moonlight streams in through the window.

2. Typhoid & Cholera: The Tummy Troublemakers

These two are cousins in the world of disease. They are both caused by bacteria and spread through contaminated food and water. They cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to dangerous dehydration.

A Tale of Two Kibandas: Imagine two food kiosks. One, "Mama Safi's," has clean water for washing hands, food is covered to keep flies away, and she washes her vegetables thoroughly. Next door, the kiosk is not so clean. The water looks murky and flies are buzzing everywhere. Which kiosk do you think is safer to buy a chapati from? Mama Safi's, of course! Simple hygiene makes all the difference.

• Prevention Power:
  • Wash your hands! Use soap and running water, especially after visiting the toilet and before eating.
  • Drink boiled or treated water. If you are not sure, boil it!
  • Wash fruits and vegetables well with clean water before eating them.
  • Make sure food is cooked thoroughly and eaten while hot.

Health Maths: The Lifesaving Formula!

When someone has severe diarrhoea from cholera or typhoid, they lose a lot of water and salts from their body. We can make a simple, powerful drink called Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) to help them. Here is the recipe you can make at home with your parents' help.

    HOW TO MAKE ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION (ORS)

    Step 1: Find a clean 1-litre container.
            (Like a large soda bottle, washed well)

    Step 2: Pour 1 litre of clean, safe water into it.
            (Boiled and cooled water is best!)

    Step 3: Add Six (6) level teaspoons of sugar.
            (--- --- --- --- --- ---)  <-- 6 spoons

    Step 4: Add Half (1/2) a level teaspoon of salt.
            (---) <-- Half a spoon

    Step 5: Stir or shake very well until all the sugar and salt have dissolved.

    Step 6: Give small sips to the sick person continuously.

This simple mixture can save a life by preventing dehydration. It's mathematics in action to promote health!

Breaking the Chain of Infection

Diseases don't just appear from nowhere. They spread in a sequence called the Chain of Infection. If we break just ONE link in the chain, we can stop the disease!

    [Infectious Agent] ----> [Reservoir] ----> [Portal of Exit]
    (The germ/parasite)      (Where it lives)   (How it gets out)
           ^                                         |
           |                                         |
           |                                         v
    [Susceptible Host] <---- [Portal of Entry] <---- [Mode of Transmission]
    (The person who gets sick) (How it gets in)     (How it travels)

Let's use the common cold as an example:

• The Agent is the cold virus.
• The Reservoir is the sick person.
• The Portal of Exit is their mouth/nose when they cough or sneeze.
• The Mode of Transmission is the droplets in the air.
• The Portal of Entry is YOUR nose or mouth when you breathe those droplets in.
• The Susceptible Host is YOU!

How do we break the chain? By washing our hands, we block the Portal of Entry. By covering our mouth when we cough, we block the Portal of Exit. See? You have the power!

Image Suggestion: A colourful and clear infographic for a classroom wall in Kenya, showing the six links of the "Chain of Infection" with simple icons. For each link, a cartoon hand is shown "breaking" the chain with a corresponding action icon (e.g., a soap bar breaking the "Mode of Transmission" link, a mosquito net breaking the "Portal of Entry" link for malaria).

You are a Health Champion!

Remember, knowing about these diseases is the first step to defeating them. You don't need to be a doctor to make a huge difference. By practicing simple hygiene, keeping your environment clean, and sleeping under a net, you are not just protecting yourself – you are protecting your family, your friends, and your entire community.

Your homework? Go home today and share ONE prevention tip you learned with your family. Maybe you can check for stagnant water together or teach a younger sibling the proper way to wash their hands. Be the champion of health in your home!

Habari Mwanafunzi! Let's Become Health Detectives!

Have you ever had to miss a fun chama, a football match with your friends, or even school because you felt weak, feverish, or had a running stomach? It's the worst, isn't it? Well, today we are going to become Health Detectives! Our mission is to investigate the most common diseases in our communities, understand how they spread, and most importantly, learn the secrets to stopping them right in their tracks. By the end of this lesson, you will be a Health Champion for your family and friends. Let's begin!

What Are We Fighting? Communicable vs. Non-Communicable Diseases

First, let's understand our enemy. Diseases can be divided into two main teams:

• Communicable Diseases: Think of these like a rumour or a popular song – they can spread from one person to another! They are caused by tiny invaders called germs (like bacteria, viruses, or parasites). Examples include Malaria, Cholera, and the common cold.
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): These are diseases you can't "catch" from someone else. They are often related to our lifestyle, genetics, and environment. Examples include Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.

Kenya's Most Unwanted List: Common Communicable Diseases

Let's look at some of the common communicable diseases we face here in Kenya and how to defeat them.

1. Malaria: The Mosquito's Nasty Gift

Malaria is a serious disease spread by the bite of a specific type of mosquito – the female Anopheles mosquito. She is most active at dusk and dawn.

Symptoms:

• High fever and sweating
• Shaking chills
• Headache and muscle aches
• Feeling very tired (fatigue)

Prevention is our superpower! Here is how we fight back:

• Sleep Under a Treated Mosquito Net: This is your best shield at night. Every single night!
• Clear Stagnant Water: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water. Let's get rid of their breeding grounds! Empty old tires, tins, and cover water storage containers (*mitungi*).
• Wear Protective Clothing: When you're outside in the evening, wear long sleeves and trousers.

    

    (Infected Mosquito) --bites--> (Human)
            ^                         |
            |                         | gets sick
            |                         v
    (Another Mosquito) --bites--> (Infected Human)
    
    **BREAK THE CYCLE! Use a net and clear stagnant water.**

Real-Life Scenario: Juma loved playing football until late in the evening. He often forgot to use a mosquito net. One week, he felt too sick to even get out of bed. He had a high fever and terrible chills. After a visit to the local clinic, he was diagnosed with malaria. Juma learned a tough lesson: a simple mosquito net could have kept him on the football pitch.

2. Cholera & Typhoid: The "Tummy Troubles" Crew

These are what we call waterborne diseases. They are caused by consuming food or water that is contaminated with germs from faeces.

Symptoms:

• Severe watery diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Dehydration (losing too much water from the body)

Prevention - The "Clean Hands, Clean Tummy" Rules:

• Wash Hands: Always wash your hands with soap and running water after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food.
• Safe Water: Drink water that has been boiled or treated. Don't just drink straight from the river!
• Food Safety: Cook food thoroughly, especially meat. Eat it while it's hot and keep it covered to protect it from flies. Be careful with street food like *mutura* or *mayai pasua* - ensure it's prepared hygienically.

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, colourful mural painted on a school wall in a Kenyan village. The mural shows children happily demonstrating the steps of proper handwashing with soap and clean water. The style is bright and educational, with Swahili text like "Nawa Mikono, Zuia Magonjwa!"

When someone has severe diarrhoea, they lose a lot of water and salts. We can help them by giving them an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). You can make a simple one at home!

    ### Life-Saving Math: How to Make ORS

    **What you need:**
    - 1 Litre of clean, safe water
    - 6 level teaspoons of sugar
    - 1/2 level teaspoon of salt

    **Instructions:**
    1. Pour the 1 litre of water into a clean container.
    2. Add the 6 teaspoons of sugar.
    3. Add the 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
    4. Stir very well until both the sugar and salt have dissolved.
    5. Give the sick person small sips frequently.

    **Calculation Check:**
    Ratio of Sugar to Salt = 6 teaspoons : 0.5 teaspoons
    Simplified Ratio       = 12 : 1 
    This ratio is crucial for the body to absorb the water effectively!

The Chain of Infection: How Germs Travel

For a communicable disease to spread, it needs to follow a path called the Chain of Infection. If we break just one link in the chain, we can stop the disease!

    

    [1. Germ] ---> [2. Reservoir] ---> [3. Exit Portal] ---> [4. Transmission] ---> [5. Entry Portal] ---> [6. New Host]
    (e.g. Flu   (e.g. Sick      (e.g. Cough/     (e.g. Droplets   (e.g. Mouth/     (e.g. You!)
     Virus)      Person)       Sneeze)        in the air)       Nose)

    **Our goal is to BREAK THE CHAIN! e.g., Covering a cough breaks link #3 and #4.**

A Quick Look at Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

Remember the other team? NCDs are on the rise, often due to changes in our diet and how much we move. Eating too many processed foods and sugary drinks, and not getting enough exercise, can lead to problems like diabetes and high blood pressure later in life.

The "Eat Well, Move More" Motto:

• Embrace our healthy traditional foods like *githeri*, *managu*, *sukuma wiki*, and fresh fruits.
• Reduce sugary sodas, juices, and snacks.
• Play outside! Run, play football, dance – just get your body moving every day.

A simple way to check if your weight is in a healthy range for your height is by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). It's a useful health indicator.

    ### Health Math: Calculating Your BMI

    The formula for BMI is:
    BMI = Weight (in kilograms) / (Height (in meters) * Height (in meters))

    **Example:**
    Let's say a student, Pendo, weighs 55 kg and is 1.6 meters tall.

    Step 1: Calculate Height squared
    1.6 m * 1.6 m = 2.56 m²

    Step 2: Divide Weight by Height squared
    55 kg / 2.56 m² = 21.48

    Pendo's BMI is 21.5. A healthy BMI for adults is typically between 18.5 and 24.9.

You are the Health Champion!

Remember, knowledge is power! You now have the power to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Simple actions like washing your hands, sleeping under a net, and making healthy food choices can make a huge difference. As we say in Swahili, "Kinga ni bora kuliko tiba" – prevention is better than cure.

Go on, be a Health Champion! Share what you've learned today.