5f: Challenges in Treatment and Control

Question 1

Epidemiology definition

Answer 1

Epidemiology is the study of the outbreak and spread of infectious disease

Question 2

Herd immunity definition

Answer 2

The herd immunity threshold is the density of resistant hosts in the population required to prevent an epidemic

Question 3

Vaccines contain…

Answer 3

antigens that will elicit an immune response

Question 4

Why is it difficult to find drug compounds that only target the parasite

Answer 4

• The similarities between host and parasite metabolism makes it difficult to find drug compounds that only target the parasite
• antigenic variation has to be reflected in the design of vaccines

Question 5

Some parasites are ________ making it difficult to design vaccines

Answer 5

difficult to culture in the laboratory

Question 6

Challenges arise where parasites spread most rapidly as a result of…

Answer 6

overcrowding or tropical climates

Question 7

Reasons for overcrowding

Answer 7

Overcrowding can occur in refugee camps that result from war or natural disaster or rapidly growing cities in LEDCs.

Question 8

Civil engineering projects to __________ may often be the only practical control strategies

Answer 8

Improve sanitation combined with co-ordinated vector control

Question 9

What can improvements in parasite control do

Answer 9

reduce child mortality and result in population- wide improvements in child development and intelligence, as individuals have more resources for growth and development