4.3.1.2 Viral Diseases Flashcards
1
Q
What type of pathogen is measles caused by?
A
virus
2
Q
How is measles transmitted?
A
- by coughing/sneezing
- inhaled droplets
- transmission through the air - inhaling infected droplets from sneezes and coughs from an infected individual
3
Q
What are the symptoms of measles?
A
- symptoms initially begin with fever, swollen eyes, coughing and runny nose
- after few days red skin rash on face develops before spreading across body
- spots
- red eyes
- diarrhoea
4
Q
What can measles lead to?
A
- can lead to complications in children (which can be fatal) e.g. pneumonia (lung infection), encephalitis (brain infection), blindness, lifelong brain damage, deafness, death
5
Q
How is the spread of measles prevented?
A
- most young children vaccinated against measles due to measles being a serious illness and being fatal if complications arise and to reduce transmission - get MMR shot
- infected individuals should minimise contact to avoid spreading it further
6
Q
What is the treatment for measles?
A
- no specific treatment for this disease
- with appropriate rest and care the individual will recover
- additional medicines will need to be used to treat any complications arising from diseases
7
Q
What type of pathogen is HIV caused by?
A
HIV virus
8
Q
What affect does HIV have on the body?
A
- HIV attacks and destroys the infection fighting cells CD4 cells of the immune system
- loss of CD4 cells makes it difficult for body to fight infections and certain cancers
- HIV virus attacking immune systems means white blood cells can’t kill bacteria as easily
9
Q
What are the symptoms of HIV?
A
- initially causes flu-like illness
- fever
- headache
- rash
- rapid weight loss
- chronic diarrhoea
10
Q
How is HIV transmitted?
A
- spread through exchange of body fluids through sexual contact e.g. semen, pre-seminal fluids, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids
- exchange of body fluids which occurs when drug users exchange needles
- can also be spread through breast milk
11
Q
How can the spread of HIV be prevented/controlled?
A
- use condoms
- ensure you and any partners are STD tested
- don’t injects drugs/share needles
- screening blood when it is used in blood transfusions
- mothers with HIV bottle-feeding their children instead of breastfeeding
- if your are at high risk of HIV from sex or injecting drugs, taking HIV medicines daily, called pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) reduces risk of HIV infection
12
Q
What is the treatment for HIV?
A
- no cure for disease
- use of antiretroviral drugs to stop viruses replicating in body and to stop the development of AIDs (late stage of HIV)
13
Q
What happens if HIV is not successfully treated?
A
- if HIV not successfully controlled by antiretroviral drugs the HIV virus attacks the body’s immune system
**- immune system damaged/weakened - HIV virus attacking immune systems means white blood cells can’t kill bacteria as effectively**
- leads to late stage HIV or AID’s when body’s immune system so badly damaged can no longer deal with other infections or cancers
14
Q
What type of pathogen is TMV?
A
- virus
- a widespread plant pathogen which affects many species of plants inc. tomatoes
15
Q
How is TMV transmitted?
A
- direct contact between diseased and healthy plants
- indirect contact e.g. plants infected via plant wounds after human handling, via contaminated equipment
- virus can also contaminate seeds which grow into infected plants
- through vectors e.g. insects
