1.4 Pathogens and disease Flashcards
What are pathogens? and what do they cause?
Microorganisms, cause infectious diseases.
Give two types of pathogens.
Bacteria and viruses
Why do bacteria or viruses in the body make you feel ill?
They reproduce rapidly and produce toxins (poisons). Viruses also reproduce inside cells and damage the cells themselves, this will also make the person feel ill.
Where do viruses reproduce?
Inside cells
What was the name of the doctor who realised that infection could be transferred from person to person? What did he do?
Semmelweiss, told staff to was their hand between treating patients
Why were Semmelweiss’s ideas not accepted at first?
They seemed ridiculous, nobody knew about viruses and bacteria.
Give an example of a common illness cause by a virus
Common cold
