5. Health Flashcards
Pathogens
Bacteria and viruses which are harmful to our body and health
Use or destroy our body cells for their own survival, causing diseases
What happens inside your body when you are sick?
Body responds to the presence of pathogens by trying to make the side of the body less appealing to deprive the pathogens of its needs for survival
Ex. Fever
For making the body temperature warmer to kill the pathogens
Parasites
Parasites may be single-celled micro-organisms such as amoebas, or larger, multicellular organisms such as worms
Parasite uses the host as a source of nutrients, depriving the host of the substances it needs for its own survival
Body’s response to pathogenic invaders
Body produces antibodies
Antibodies/ memory cells stay in your body to fight of the pathogens in the future
Vaccines
Act as a trigger for body’s production of antibodies without being exposed to the pathogens
Vaccines contain fragments of pathogens that are enough to stimulate the immune system
How do diseases get transmitted?
Airborne transmission
Transmission via bodily fluids
Inherited or genetic diseases
Airborne transmission
When a person coughs or sneezes while ill, causing the pathogenic bacteria cells or
viruses to spread from the infected person’s mouth and nose through the air, and land on a surface or on another person
Pathogens can survive for hours while floating in the air or after landing on a surface.
Ex.
Common cold, flu and strep throat.
Transmission via bodily fluids
These types of communicable diseases do not spread as easily as those caused by airborne pathogens, because we are less likely to come into direct, physical contact with the
body fluids of another person or animal
Body fluids, such as
blood, saliva, etc. of an infected person – or animal
Inherited or genetic diseases
Only way for them to be transmitted is if the genes that code for the disease are passed from generation to generation in a family
