Question

Which of the following diseases spread through the air?
A. Dysentery, cholera, and typhoid
B. Ulcer, heart attack, and appendicitis
C. Common cold and influenza
D. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Answer 1

The diseases that spread through air are known as air-borne diseases. Air-borne diseases spread through tiny droplets present in the air. Moreover, airborne diseases are considered highly contagious infections.

Complete answer: Airborne disease is a category of contagious or communicable diseases. It consists of diseases that spread through the droplets present in air.
a) Dysentery, cholera and typhoid: Dysentery is a water-borne disease which spreads through contaminated water and sometimes food. It is caused by Shigella bacteria. A very common symptom is diarrhea, whereas cholera is caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. It is also a water-borne disease that spreads through contaminated water and food. Lastly, the typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria. It is a water-borne disease too.
b) Ulcer, heart attack, and appendicitis: An ulcer is the formation of a sore on the walls of the stomach or gastrointestinal lining or any other tissues. It is caused due to the damage caused by the hydrochloric acid of the stomach. A heart attack is caused, when the SA node fails temporarily to give a signal to the AV node. Due to this reason, the AV node starts contracting the auricle and ventricles, which causes a sudden decrease in the heartbeat. Lastly, appendicitis is the abnormal growth of the appendix that causes severe pain in the abdomen.
c) Common cold and influenza: The common cold is an air-borne disease. It is caused by Rhinovirus. It is a highly contagious disease. The cough or the sneezing produces tiny droplets of infections in the air, which if inhaled by a healthy person, can make them sick. Influenza is caused by the influenzae virus and it is also known as the flu. It is also an airborne disease.
d) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome stands for AIDS. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is caused by a virus. The virus is human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. It is a sexually transmitted disease. It can be prevented by the use of condoms at the time of sexual intercourse.
Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note: In order to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, especially air-borne diseases, it is highly advised to cover your mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing. It is also advised to wash your hands frequently at small intervals. Covid is also an airborne disease. Therefore, it is advised to wear masks and wash hands frequently to prevent the transmission of Covid.