How is a non infectious disease different from a infectious disease?

Answer 1

Infectious Diseases are those diseases which are caused by infectious agents (which include microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa and virus, as well as some multicellular animals such as worms) and hence they are the ones which can spread from one person to another. Non-infectious diseases are those diseases that are not caused by infectious agents and do not spread from one person to another.

Answer 2

Infectious diseases and non-infectious diseases differ primarily in how they are caused and spread:

Infectious Diseases:

Cause: Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or prions.

Transmission: These diseases can be spread directly or indirectly from person to person, through contact with contaminated surfaces, through the air (via respiratory droplets), through insect vectors, or through contaminated food and water.

Examples: Common infectious diseases include influenza, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, COVID-19, and various sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Non-Infectious Diseases:

Cause: Non-infectious diseases are caused by factors other than pathogens. These factors can include genetic predisposition, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and chronic conditions.

Transmission: Non-infectious diseases typically cannot be transmitted from person to person in the same way as infectious diseases. Instead, they often develop as a result of individual risk factors or exposures.

Examples: Non-infectious diseases include cardiovascular diseases (such as Heart disease and stroke), cancer, Diabetes, autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid Arthritis and lupus), chronic respiratory diseases (like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and mental health disorders (such as depression and anxiety).

It's important to note that while infectious diseases are often caused by external pathogens and can spread between individuals, non-infectious diseases usually stem from internal factors, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures, and they generally do not spread from person to person.