4.3. The Transmission and Control of Infectious Diseases

Question 1

What are the four types of infectious disease?

Answer 1

Bacterium (Tuberculosis)
Protozoan (Malaria)
Fungus (Athlete’s foot)
Virus (Influenza)

Question 2

In what ways can diseases be passed on?

Answer 2

• Direct contact.
• Indirect contact such as sharing foods.
• Inhaling air.
• Exchange of bodily fluids.
• Eating/ drinking contaminated substances.
• Through vector organisms such as mosquitos.

Question 3

What is quarantining?

Answer 3

Isolating people deliberately to reduce the risk of transmission. These people cannot come into contact with unaffected people.

Question 4

What is antisepsis?

Answer 4

This is procedures that destroy or slow growth of microorganisms. This includes sterilising equipment, using antiseptic chemicals when cleaning things or dressing wounds.

Question 5

How can social responsibilities control the spread of disease?

Answer 5

Social responsibilities such as maintaining good hygiene help to control transmission as it makes transmission harder. Other social responsibilities are preparing food safely and practicing safe sex.

Question 6

What are drug therapies?

Answer 6

Taking antibiotics and other medicines to reduce infectious ness.

Question 7

What is immunisation?

Answer 7

Giving people vaccinations to make them immune to the disease.

Question 8

What is epidemiology?

Answer 8

The study of everything surrounding infectious diseases.

Question 9

What are the four main types of spread pattern?

Answer 9

Sporadic - Occasional
Endemic - Regular
Epidemic - Irregularly High
Pandemic - Global epidemic