HOW DISEASES SPREAD
Resources for Child Care Givers
Provided by All Family Resources

Infectious diseases are caused by germs, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Contagious or communicable diseases are those that can be spread from one person to another. Infectious diseases that commonly occur among children are often communicable or contagious and may spread very easily from person to person.

Infants and toddlers are highly susceptible to contagious diseases. They have not yet been exposed to many of the most common germs. Therefore, they have not yet built up resistance or immunity to them. Also, young children have many habits that promote the spread of germs. For example, they often put their fingers and other objects in their mouths. In this way, germs enter and leave the body and can then infect the child or be passed on to others.

In order for germs to be spread from one person to another, three things must happen.

1. Germs must be present in the environment, either through a person carrying the germ or through infectious body fluids, such as discharge from the eye, nose, mouth, or digestive (gastrointestinal) tract; in the air; or on a surface.
2. A person who is not immune to the germ must come in contact with or be exposed to the germs.
3. The contact or exposure must be in a way that leads to infection.