B5.6 Viral diseases Flashcards
What are the main symptoms of measles?
A fever and a red skin rash
How is measles spread?
By the inhalation of droplets from coughs and sneezes and is very infectious
What can measles cause?
Blindness and brain damage
What is the treatment for measles?
There is no treatment - the person needs to be isolated if they become infected
Why is measles rare in the UK?
As a result of improved living conditions and a vaccination programme for young children
What can HIV lead to?
AIDS
Why do people not realise they are infected with HIV?
Because the virus only causes a mild flu like illness to being with - HIV attacks immune system and it remains hidden in the immune system
What can HIV do?
Damages the immune system until it can no longer deal with infections or certain cancers - at this point the patient has developed AIDS
How is HIV spread?
Sexual contact and the exchange of body fluids such as blood - which occurs when the drug users share needles or when unscreened blood is used for transfusions
How can HIV be cured?
It cannot be cured - and there is no vaccine for it
How can the spread of HIV be prevented?
Using condoms - not sharing needles - screening blood for transfusions
What is the antiretroviral drug use for?
Prevent the development of AIDS for many years
What is the Tobacco mosaic virus?
First virus ever to be isolated - it causes a discoloration on the leaves as the virus destroys the cell
What are the affects of the Tobacco mosaic virus?
Affects growth of plant because the affected areas of the leaf do not photosynthesise - can reduce the yield of a crop
How is TMV spread?
By contact between diseased plant material and a health plant and insects can act as vectors
