B5 Communicable Diseases

Question 1

communicable (infectious) disease

Answer 1

disease caused by pathogens that can be passed from one organism to another

Question 2

non-communicable diseases

Answer 2

are not infectious and cannot be passed from one organism to another

Question 3

pathogens

Answer 3

microorganisms that cause disease

Question 4

vaccine

Answer 4

dead or inactive pathogenic material used in vaccination to develop immunity to a disease in a healthy person

Question 5

virus

Answer 5

pathogens that are much smaller than bacteria and can only reproduce inside living cells of other organisms

Question 6

What makes you sick: Diet

Answer 6

if you do not get enough to eat, or the right nutrients, you may suffer from diseases ranging from starvation to anaemia or rickets. Too much food, or the wrong type of food, can lead to problems such as obesity, some cancers, or type 2 diabetes.

Question 7

What makes you sick: Stress

Answer 7

a certain level of stress is inevitable in everyone’s life and is probably needed for our bodies to function properly. If you have too much stress you may get heart disease, certain cancers, and mental health problems.

Question 8

What makes you sick: Life situations

Answer 8

these include: the part of the world where you live, your gender, your financial status, your ethnic group the levels of free health care provided, where you live, how many children you have, local sewage and rubbish disposal

Question 9

Health

Answer 9

a state of physical or mental wellbeing.

Question 10

Bacteria

Answer 10

Bacteria divide rapidly by splitting in two (called binary fission). They may produce toxins (poisons) that affect your body and make you feel ill, Sometimes they directly damage your cells.

Question 11

Viruses

Answer 11

Viruses take over the cells of your body. They live and reproduce inside the cells, damaging and destroying them.

Question 12

How pathogens spread?

Answer 12

By air, direct contact and by water.

Question 13

Hygiene

Answer 13

Simple hygiene measures are one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of pathogens. Washing your hands after coming into contact with chemicals, raw meat, bodily fluids, machinery or dirty surfaces.

Question 14

Isolating infected individuals-

Answer 14

If someone has an infectious disease, especially a serious disease such as Ebola or cholera, they need to be kept in isolation. The less people that come into contact with them mean the pathogens will not be spread.

Question 15

Destroying or controlling vectors-

Answer 15

Some communicable diseases are passed on by vectors. For example, mosquitoes carry a range of diseases. If the vectors are destroyed or controlled, the disease may stoped or reduced being spread.

Question 16

Vaccination-

Answer 16

During a vaccination doctors introduce a small amount of a harmless pathogen. This means if you come into contact with the disease you will be immune to it. Vaccination is a very successful way of preventing diseases.

Question 17

Individuals who contributed to the prevention of diseases

Answer 17

Louis Pasteur showed that microorganisms caused disease. He developed vaccines against diseases such as anthrax and rabies. Joseph Lister started to use antiseptic chemicals to destroy pathogens before they caused infection in operating theatres.
Ignaz Semmelweis discovered how you need to be washing your hands constantly to maintain hygiene.

Question 18

How do white blood cells produce antibodies.

Answer 18

Some white blood cells produce special chemicals called antibodies. These target particular bacteria or viruses and destroy them. You need a unique antibody for each type of pathogen. When your white blood cells have produced antibodies once against a particular pathogen, they can be made very quickly if that pathogen gets into the body again. This stops you getting the disease twice.

Question 19

How do white blood cells produce antitoxins.

Answer 19

Some white blood cells produce antitoxins. These counteract (cancel out) the toxins released by pathogens.

Question 20

How do white blood cells ingest/ingulf micro-organisms.

Answer 20

Some white blood cells ingest (take in) pathogens, digesting and destroying them so they cannot make you ill.

Question 21

How does your body prevent pathogens?

Answer 21

Mucus- traps microbes Tears- break down microbes and dirt in your nose and remove dirt
Skin- is the bodies 1st line of defence
Cila- are tiny hair that travel microbes up to your mouth
Stomach acid- destroy many microbes in our food and drink
Urine flushes microbes out of the bladder and uretha
When the skin is blood clots to form a scab. This stops microbes and dirt entering the body